2014 Japan Open (Tokyo) FINAL: [4] K. Nishikori vs. [3] M. Raonic

[Team10]

No thread for this match? I think this will be a much better final than the Djokovic vs. Berdych Beijing one. This will be Raonic's third successive final after losing in 2012 and 2013 to Nishikori and Del Potro respectively. I'm going with the ninja in 3. Who's your pick?

 

[Team10]

GOAT gif:

 

[bl14]

Wasnt this last years final too?

 

[Nostradamus]

GOAT gif:

no wonder he destroyed Novak in US open

 

[Bryan Swartz]

No, last year Raonic to Del Potro. It was the final two years ago.

There's been conversation of the this in the general Tokyo thread. As I said there, I think Kei's physical issues(hip the last couple matches) will contribute to Raonic winning a close match. Could go either way though of course.

 

[Team10]

...And Raonic starts off with an ace, what else is new?

 

[BreakPoint]

Roof is closed, which means Raonic can just serve bombs without abandon. Much easier to serve without the sun and wind and heat. Nishikori would have a much better chance with the roof open since he's better in hot and humid conditions and Raonic would have more trouble serving.

 

[Team10]

It's only 1-1 but this match is already good, some HUGE hitting from both players early on.

 

[Team10]

Roof is closed, which means Raonic can just serve bombs without abandon. Much easier to serve without the sun and wind and heat. Nishikori would have a much better chance with the roof open since he's better in hot and humid conditions and Raonic would have more trouble serving.

Fair point, but hasn't the roof been closed all tournament? It is the indoor season after all.

 

[mule250]

It's only 1-1 but this match is already good, some HUGE hitting from both players early on.

yeah, they are crushing the ball wow

 

[Team10]

Raonic's serve is just so unreal, even crazier in person.

3-2 Raonic on serve

 

[Team10]

IS THIS TENNIS OR PING PONG?!

My God, they are hitting the ball back and forth so ****ing fast and taking the ball early, it's incredible.

 

[BreakPoint]

Fair point, but hasn't the roof been closed all tournament? It is the indoor season after all.

No, it hasn't. Tokyo is an outdoor tournament. It's still hot and humid in Tokyo this time of the year.

You can see the Sun here during Nishikori's QF:

 

[Team10]

No, it hasn't. Tokyo is an outdoor tournament. It's still hot and humid in Tokyo this time of the year.

It's 59° out in Tokyo right now, so hot :roll:

Just looking at the weather for this week there, it seems just like the weather here in NJ/NY

 

[Bryan Swartz]

It was hot enough in the early rounds for players to be regularly changing shirts plastered to their body with sweat so that they looked like a second skin. It was hot enough .

 

[Team10]

Opening for Nishikori here at 0-30, 4-4 on Raonic's serve.

2 aces in a row and it's 30-30

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Great match so far.

 

[Team10]

Tiebreak time!

 

[Bryan Swartz]

Interesting try by Raonic there at 15-0 with the dropshot return. I'm surprised at how the tiebreaks have gone, Nishikori 5-1 with the one loss at the USO third set this year.

Also haven't seen any sign of the hip issues yet for Nishikori, was some visible wincing the last two rounds ...

 

[Gut Check]

Tiebreak time!

I'll play the role of Captain Obvious and state that this tiebreak is crucial.

 

[Bryan Swartz]

Ok, that's just a ridiculous BH return there.

 

[Gut Check]

I'm surprised at how the tiebreaks have gone, Nishikori 5-1 with the one loss at the USO third set this year.

Considering that Milos has pretty much owned the rest of the tour in TB's for the last few months, that's an odd and impressive stat in favour of Kei.

 

[Team10]

5-5 in the tiebreak, huge point here.

EDIT: 6-5 Nishikori, set point! Let's go Kei!

 

[Bryan Swartz]

I've not often seen a better set a tennis. I could do with seeing these two play again at the World Tour Finals.

 

[Team10]

What a return and a passing shot to follow it up!! Nishikori takes the first set 7-5 in the tiebreak!

 

[BreakPoint]

Fricking UNBELIEVABLE set point!!!!!!

 

[Team10]

I've not often seen a better set a tennis. I could do with seeing these two play again at the World Tour Finals.

I know right. How great would it be to see these two play each other in a grand slam final? Hopefully more than once

 

[FreeBird]

 

[Gut Check]

The lost generation maybe not so long after all. Proof that we don't always need one or more of Fedalovic to see some entertaining tennis.

 

[Phonco]

Wow. Where was this Nishikori back in the USO final?

 

[FreeBird]

Never been a fan of Raonic's game but his matches against Nishikori are entertaining.

 

[Team10]

Wow. Where was this Nishikori back in the USO final?

2 (or 3?) 5 setters combined with a zoning Cilic in the final. It was a near impossible task.

 

[FreeBird]

Wow. Where was this Nishikori back in the USO final?

Overwhelmed by the occasion. He admitted that he was nervous as f*** in the final.

 

[Bryan Swartz]

Tight opening game, Nishikori somewhat fortunate to hold. .

 

[Team10]

Never been a fan of Raonic's game but his matches against Nishikori are entertaining.

They really are, they never disappoint just like Fed vs. Djoko matches. The contrasting styles of Nishikori vs. Raonic is really nice to watch. Like Sampras vs. Agassi except Raonic can't volley for his life

 

[Bryan Swartz]

Wow. Where was this Nishikori back in the USO final?

What Team10 said, and he'd also played 14 sets in the past three matches in his first event back from a foot injury. Having said that, I don't think it would have mattered. Cilic was invincible the way he was playing.

 

[Bryan Swartz]

I think Raonic's backhand is good enough that he needs to start trusting it more and not running around every possible shot.

 

[BreakPoint]

Overwhelmed by the occasion. He admitted that he was nervous as f*** in the final.

I heard that the Japanese Prime Minister called Nishikori right before the final to wish him luck. Talk about unnecessarily putting additional pressure on him. What the heck was the Prime Minister thinking? Call him AFTER the match, not before!

 

[Team10]

I think Raonic's backhand is good enough that he needs to start trusting it more and not running around every possible shot.

His backhand still needs work but it has been pretty impressive for the duration of this match, probably the best I've ever seen it. He runs around it way too much though, you're right. He's not Nadal, he doesn't have the moment, speed, or footwork to get back into the court.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

This 2nd set is kind of a dud...

 

[junior74]

dropshot - lob

 

[Bryan Swartz]

Raonic finally breaks, both players up and down right now.

 

[Team10]

^ Yeah not as great as the first set, but hey it's hard to keep that level up the entire match. That was a great dropshot lob play from Nishikori a couple points ago, lob winner right over Raonic.

Wow Raonic just broke Nishikori for 4-3 in the second set, didn't see that coming.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I see the trainer waiting by the entrance... Nishikori hurt again?

 

[Bryan Swartz]

He's been getting regular treatment on his right hip the last three matches.

Edit: If Raonic keeps landing his first serve at 70+%, he won't be losing often.

 

[Gut Check]

Well now, that was an interesting turn of events. I won't claim to have any clue of who might win this match now.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

LOL!

Michael Chang looks mad as hell.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

I just love nishikori's game. He's becoming my new favourite non-murray non-gulbis tennis player.

i could watch nishi do his ninja skills all night long

 

[BreakPoint]

He's been getting regular treatment on his right hip the last three matches.

Edit: If Raonic keeps landing his first serve at 70+%, he won't be losing often.

There's a reason why Raonic won 3 SAP Opens in a row. It's played indoors! If they hadn't cancelled that tournament, he'd win it every year until he retired!

 

[Bryan Swartz]

This would be the best time to take it right here. Both players a little erratic at times, but Nishikori could break here and serve for it.