Montecarlo 2018 SF: Kei Nishikori vs [3] Alexander Zverev

[Pagoo]

Both guys are playing their third straight 3 setter. Good luck tomorrow.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Just doesn't seem to be working for him today. Hope he can win the next mini-session, and have a chance to make amends tomorrow ...

Certainly going better now. Winning the first two frames after the interval is a good start, particularly that century in his second frame. Let's hope he can reduce the arrears further.

 

[Atennisone]

Really want Nishikori back to play as good as he did once.

 

[heninfan99]

very nice from the sulky samarai

 

[heninfan99]

okay nishi, ride that momentum to a break

 

[Krish872007]

Both guys are playing their third straight 3 setter. Good luck tomorrow.

It's now 4 in a row for Zverev.
Would be nice to see Kei go through to another Masters Final - also because it would virtually guarantee us the MC title

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Me again. More like it in frame 6. Nice big break.

Frame 7 looking good so far as well ... but let's not be hasty.

 

[Pagoo]

It's now 4 in a row for Zverev.
Would be nice to see Kei go through to another Masters Final - also because it would virtually guarantee us the MC title

Yeah! That's right. Muller, Struff, Gasquet and Kei. That's a lot of tennis!

 

[mike danny]

Yeah! That's right. Muller, Struff, Gasquet and Kei. That's a lot of tennis!

He shouldn't have gone 3 with Muller and Struff though.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Frame 7 looking good so far as well ... but let's not be hasty.

And there it is. Are we going to see back-to-back centuries, after he couldn't make a higher break than 27 (I think) in the first 4 frames? Amazing!

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Crushing pass not activated yet.

 

[heninfan99]

pivot game here

 

[Pagoo]

He shouldn't have gone 3 with Muller and Struff though.

Yep. Especially Muller. It's going to be a very poor final. Nadal will just run them ragged. A Thiem-type match is on the cards.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

Ninja should wear all brown to blend in with the clay a bit more

 

[heninfan99]

beautiful adjustment from K

 

[flyingboris]

Some really great tennis. Or am I grading on a curve after Nadal-Dimi..

 

[Steve0904]

Nishi hanging on here. A really nice volley to save the last BP.

 

[RF-18]

Both guys are playing their third straight 3 setter. Good luck tomorrow.

I'd be more concerned with Nishikori. Looking very tired but gotta remember he is also coming off a long injury break and hasn't that physical form as he'd want to. Zverev seems fine tbh, three setters shouldn't be an issue for him. That's what you play in a GS to win a match.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

who has a better shot v Rafa?

 

[helixx]

lol nishi going Kyrgios

 

[Steve0904]

Nice try on the tweener volley.

 

[Steve0904]

Some loose BH misses from Zverev in this game.

 

[heninfan99]

wtf

 

[Sysyphus]

who has a better shot v Rafa?

One assumes Nishikori would have the better chance of stealthily sneaking up on Rafa in the locker room with a bat, so I'll pick him.

 

[heninfan99]

who has a better shot v Rafa?

The German can pop some big serves, even on clay, and hold a few

 

[Legend of Borg]

Well yes, he's always been open to that sort of stuff, new age spirituality or whatever. Nobody's forcing him to do anything that I can see.

i mean he did have a guru even way back in 2011 at the start of nole 2.0

he definitely has a soft spot for spirituality and i don't think there's anything wrong with that

how big of an impact (positive or negative) it's had on his game is unknown and i'm not sure if nole would reveal such a thing

maybe in a biography years from now?

 

[Mainad]

Update on score for a poor television-less tennis fan?

If you click on the ATP website they will update you with the latest scores (click scores in top right corner):

http://www.atpworldtour.com/

 

[heninfan99]

awesome point from Nishi dropper & pass

 

[Mainad]

When was the last time Kei reached a masters final?

2016 Toronto (l.to Djokovic).

 

[Krish872007]

Zverev vs Gasquet probably my pick for match of the week.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

These guys are battling it out only to get crushed in the finals lol. The irony.

 

[Red Rick]

who has a better shot v Rafa?

Neither

 

[cc0509]

who has a better shot v Rafa?

Neither. Nadal is too good and too experienced.

But, it's better for Zverev to reach the final to give the kid a crack at Nadal. Even if he does terribly, it's a learning experience for him. Much better to have fresh blood and the future of the sport, IMO. Zverev is only going to get better. I think we've probably seen the best of what Nishikori can do.

 

[flyingboris]

Haha, Zverev stomping his feet like a little kid after a double fault

 

[Steve0904]

Zverev vs Gasquet probably my pick for match of the week.

Granted I didn't see every match in MC, but in my mind it's not even close. Easily match of the week, unless the final is great which I doubt it.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Rafa's boat. lol

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Neither. Nadal is too good and too experienced.

But, it's better for Zverev to reach the final to give the kid a crack at Nadal. Even if he does terribly, it's a learning experience for him. Much better to have fresh blood and the future of the sport, IMO. Zverev is only going to get better. I think we've probably seen the best of what Nishikori can do.

I think Zverev's overrated but he might just win a slam. He has to get pass the 3rd round for once in a GS first.

 

[Krish872007]

Granted I didn't see every match in MC, but in my mind it's not even close. Easily match of the week, unless the final is great which I doubt it.

Yeah the chances of a getting great final are close to 0.

 

[flyingboris]

I'm surprised how Zverev sometimes just seems to feed the ball several times in a row, giving Nishikori lots of changes to make the first big move. Seems like a bad idea.

 

[cc0509]

I think Zverev's overrated but he might just win a slam. He has to get pass the 3rd round for once in a GS first.

He has to improve in a lot of areas but I think he'll probably win some slams. He's sure shown more potential than his peers(which isn't saying much, I realize.)

 

[Pagoo]

Yeah the chances of a getting great final are close to 0.

A great final on clay? Is that a thing?

 

[Atennisone]

Who do people cheer for?

 

[ForumMember]

Tennis has come alive this Monte Carlo Masters after rather dismal first 3 months. Clay court tennis rocks. It's simply beautiful. Something for everyone- be it server, returner, attacker, grinder, volleyer, dropper, baseliner. So much variety. So many angles. Awesome.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Well presssure on Zverev to hold here.

 

[Krish872007]

Come on Special Kei.

Someone has to crack soon

 

[heninfan99]

just break nishi and the world is your oyster

 

[ACE of Hearts]

He has to improve in a lot of areas but I think he'll probably win some slams. He's sure shown more potential than his peers(which isn't saying much, I realize.)

So your telling me he will win more than 1 GS? That's your prediction?

 

[Mainad]

Nishi holds for a 5-4 lead and Sasha must now serve to stay in it. I do wonder if Nishi pulls this off he will have enough left in the tank to handle Rafa? I doubt it's gonna be 2014 Madrid all over again (and he didn't have enough to close that one out either).

 

[Krish872007]

Zverev has managed to escape and find ways to win all week though.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

Neither. Nadal is too good and too experienced.

But, it's better for Zverev to reach the final to give the kid a crack at Nadal. Even if he does terribly, it's a learning experience for him. Much better to have fresh blood and the future of the sport, IMO. Zverev is only going to get better. I think we've probably seen the best of what Nishikori can do.

Zed had a good learning experience a few weeks ago in his Davis cup loss to Rafa. Not sure who Rafa would prefer to play.