Whats Nishikori like 2-5000 vs. the Top guys?

90's Clay said:
This guy is completely awful. A prime example of the pitiful state of the men's game at the moment
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Pfft Kafelnikov was even more useless vs the top guys, and he played a bigger role in the mens game in your beloved 2nd half 90s than Nishikori today. So if Kei is an indication of a sucky mens games today, what does Kafelnikov say about the mens game in your love period?
 
Actually he is 7 - 30 against the current top 5 with Nadal being his worst match up with the record 9 defeats to 1 win.
 
I for sure think he is overhyped. He hasn't done anything exceptional since his '14 US open run, where he barely passed by Raonic and Wawrinka. Had he not made that final he wouldn't even be relevant ATM I think.
 
Comparing to Tsonga who is 21 - 50 against the current top 5 guys (even though his worst match ups are against the current top 2 with 15 defeats to 6 wins against Djokovic & 12 defeats to 2 wins against Murray), this stat is enough to make Nishikori look somewhat useless.
 
I'm torn on Nishi; he's a joy to watch but seems he lacks a bit of confidence against the top guys. His game is aggressive and he plays best when he's inside the baseline and this kind of game requires huge confidence. Look at Fed; once his confidence went South he's not the same player anymore since he also doesn't have that much of a Plan B.

Kei's second serve against Kyrgios was scarily slow at times but seemed effective. But against someone like Novak, well.... (Disclaimer: I didn't see the match yesterday)
 
Kalin said:
I'm torn on Nishi; he's a joy to watch but seems he lacks a bit of confidence against the top guys. His game is aggressive and he plays best when he's inside the baseline and this kind of game requires huge confidence. Look at Fed; once his confidence went South he's not the same player anymore since he also doesn't have that much of a Plan B.

Kei's second serve against Kyrgios was scarily slow at times but seemed effective. But against someone like Novak, well.... (Disclaimer: I didn't see the match yesterday)
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Lacks a bit of stamina as well. He put his last reserves of energy into breaking Djokovic when he served for the match in the 2nd set but was noticeably flagging in the tie-break.
 
Mainad said:
Lacks a bit of stamina as well. He put his last reserves of energy into breaking Djokovic when he served for the match in the 2nd set but was noticeably flagging in the tie-break.
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Yet he has a better 5 set record then Andy Murray. Looking tired and being too tired to compete are two different things.
 
mattosgrant said:
Pfft Kafelnikov was even more useless vs the top guys, and he played a bigger role in the mens game in your beloved 2nd half 90s than Nishikori today. So if Kei is an indication of a sucky mens games today, what does Kafelnikov say about the mens game in your love period?
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Kafelnikov won 2 slams..Mugakori can't even reach a slam final
 
For the record, against the current top 10, Nishikori is:

2-8 v Djokovic
1-6 v Murray
2-4 v Federer
1-3 v Wawrinka
1-9 v Nadal
5-2 v Tsonga
4-1 v Berdych
8-4 v Ferrer
5-2 v Raonic

Total: 29-39

Against the top 5 he is 7-30
Against the bottom 4 he is 22-9

Clearly he justifies his number #6 ranking! ;)
 
Last edited:
Mainad said:
For the record, against the current top 10, Nishikori is:

2-8 v Djokovic
1-6 v Murray
2-4 v Federer
1-3 v Wawrinka
1-9 v Nadal
5-2 v Tsonga
4-1 v Berdych
8-4 v Ferrer
5-2 v Raonic

Total: 29-39

Against the top 5 he is 7-30
Against the bottom 4 he is 22-9

Clearly he justifies his number #6 ranking! :cool:
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Have you run the numbers for the other Top 10ers, though? Or even the ones who are close? Thinking you'd find some similar mediocrity. Top guys have mostly dominated the rest...
 
90's Clay said:
Kafelnikov won 2 slams..Mugakori can't even reach a slam final
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If Nishikori had draws like Kafelnikov had at the 96 RG and 99 Australian Open he could have 2 slams too. Anyone pretty good would win with those draws, probably even Berdych would have.

Krajicek, gassed Sampras, and Stich at Roland Garros!?!!? That sounds like a Wimbledon draw, not a Roland Garros one. Then injured Martin, teenaged Haas, and Enqvist for the Australian Open title.

Kafelnikov winning 2 slams is only sign of a weak era. A guy who couldnt even win a freaking Masters title. :D Even Wawrinka who basically tanks every event outside the slams managed to win a Masters. Everytime Sampras played Kafelnikov outside of clay it was the same, 6-2 and 6-2 type win. Prime Kafelnikov was even 1-7 vs baby Hewitt, and lost 8 matches in a row to Johansson, the same Johansson some call the worst 1 slam winner ever and yet Kafelnikov is a 2 slam winner in that era. A bigger pusherover for the big guns than Berdych.
 
mattosgrant said:
If Nishikori had draws like Kafelnikov had at the 96 RG and 99 Australian Open he could have 2 slams too. Anyone pretty good would win with those draws, probably even Berdych would have.

Krajicek, gassed Sampras, and Stich at Roland Garros!?!!? That sounds like a Wimbledon draw, not a Roland Garros one. Then injured Martin, teenaged Haas, and Enqvist for the Australian Open title.

Kafelnikov winning 2 slams is only sign of a weak era. A guy who couldnt even win a freaking Masters title. :D Even Wawrinka who basically tanks every event outside the slams managed to win a Masters. Everytime Sampras played Kafelnikov outside of clay it was the same, 6-2 and 6-2 type win. Prime Kafelnikov was even 1-7 vs baby Hewitt, and lost 8 matches in a row to Johansson, the same Johansson some call the worst 1 slam winner ever and yet Kafelnikov is a 2 slam winner in that era. A bigger pusherover for the big guns than Berdych.
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Good post. Remember Kafelnikov thanking Sampras in his victory speech at the AO - for NOT playing (stayed in the US and played in the Bob Hope celebrity pro-am).

I think some of you are way too hard on Nishikori and misreading his body language. He walks around with his head down when he's beating up guys outside the Top 50 - doesn't mean he's tired or lacking confidence.

2nd @stringertom - serve is the issue - there's something to be said for free points. Djokovic certainly is getting plenty after he hired Becker. But Nishikori is still having a fantastic career and I'm sure none of the top guys take him lightly.
 
West Coast Ace said:
Good post. Remember Kafelnikov thanking Sampras in his victory speech at the AO - for NOT playing (stayed in the US and played in the Bob Hope celebrity pro-am).

I think some of you are way too hard on Nishikori and misreading his body language. He walks around with his head down when he's beating up guys outside the Top 50 - doesn't mean he's tired or lacking confidence.

2nd @stringertom - serve is the issue - there's something to be said for free points. Djokovic certainly is getting plenty after he hired Becker. But Nishikori is still having a fantastic career and I'm sure none of the top guys take him lightly.
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Not sure why you tagged me???

I haven't posted in this thread and don't have much of a positive or negative opinion about Keilvis Presikori or the impact of the improved service of The Machine.
 
Pretty darn good player for being only 5-10. Ferrer 2.0.
He is excused for having a weak serve. Show me a decent server who is/was 5-10.. And do not say Benjamin Becker with his 130-145 mph flat serves going in ~25% of the time.
But there is no excuse for Nishikori having a weak approach/net game. Short players need to have a sublime game apart from the serve to get to top 2.
 
West Coast Ace said:
I agreed with you - the only reason Nishikori doesn't have a bigger trophy case is his serve.

I wish he'd try - probably too late - to get rid of that hitch in his service motion.
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Not an issue, but what have you agreed with me on? I had never entered this thread prior to your tag and don't remember ever expressing much if anything about Presikori's game since Memphis. Maybe I'm wrong.
 
kishnabe said:
Nishikori is exceptional for his height.

He will win a slam when Novak falls off his wheels.
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I doubt it. He's not good enough. What will probably happen is that the younger Kyrgios/Zverev generation will eventually step up and displace guys like Nishikori. Nishikori is a fabulous ball striker but he will probably have a Ferrer type career and that's only if his body holds up as he seems to be prone to every injury under the sun.
 
heninfan99 said:
if only he had a bigger serve, he gave a great effort yesterday
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This is a huge problem and why its hard for Ninja to peak and win the big events. Murray has much the same issue, but has been making definite strides. Ninja is a fantastic player and a much more entertaining "gatekeeper" of the top ten then Berdych and Ferrer.
 
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mattosgrant said:
If Nishikori had draws like Kafelnikov had at the 96 RG and 99 Australian Open he could have 2 slams too. Anyone pretty good would win with those draws, probably even Berdych would have.

Krajicek, gassed Sampras, and Stich at Roland Garros!?!!? That sounds like a Wimbledon draw, not a Roland Garros one. Then injured Martin, teenaged Haas, and Enqvist for the Australian Open title.

Kafelnikov winning 2 slams is only sign of a weak era. A guy who couldnt even win a freaking Masters title. :D Even Wawrinka who basically tanks every event outside the slams managed to win a Masters. Everytime Sampras played Kafelnikov outside of clay it was the same, 6-2 and 6-2 type win. Prime Kafelnikov was even 1-7 vs baby Hewitt, and lost 8 matches in a row to Johansson, the same Johansson some call the worst 1 slam winner ever and yet Kafelnikov is a 2 slam winner in that era. A bigger pusherover for the big guns than Berdych.
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That is @SoBad . Just was looking at the Kafelnikov triumphs and couldn't agree more. What about his Olympic Gold?

You wonder what a taste of some big wins might do for Nishikori? The 2014 US Open run cemented his tenure in the top 10, but some more ATP1000 or even a slam win might make a big difference. Ditto for Tsonga. A lot of good players have been smothered and not allowed to develop that winning feeling.
Nishikori needs a serve in today's game.
 
TheMusicLover said:
60's Weed only watched the SB yesterday. Or merely the final score.
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LOL.

Actually its 80's Weed (racket 135 sq. in). On court and ready to volley like Sampras and Edberg:
134969-DSC08652.JPG
 
He's 2-8 lifetime against Djokovic, 1-6 against Murray, 2-4 against Federer, and 1-9 against Nadal.

So he's not 2-5000, more like 6-27 lol!
 
Meles said:
That is @SoBad . Just was looking at the Kafelnikov triumphs and couldn't agree more. What about his Olympic Gold?

You wonder what a taste of some big wins might do for Nishikori? The 2014 US Open run cemented his tenure in the top 10, but some more ATP1000 or even a slam win might make a big difference. Ditto for Tsonga. A lot of good players have been smothered and not allowed to develop that winning feeling.
Nishikori needs a serve in today's game.
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In the Sampras-Kafelnikov era, aka Gold Era, you had to play all-time greats every round to win a slam. Kafelnikov won the same 3/5 Gold Slam that Djokovic has managed thus far, except the Kafelnikov 3/5 included the prestigious French.

Nishikori has the talent to beat everyone, but he is too kind to his fans and plays too much. Playing bunch of mickey mouse instead of spending quiet time at hospitals, ortho clinics, and rehabilitation resorts, even in the winter! Plus he refuses to bribe directors and gets stiffed on draws -- having to battle Djokovic in the USO semis instead of the easy breezy peasy cozy Federer for the Cilic fresh and rested like a spring cucumber for the final!
 
Adv. Edberg said:
Really weak. He's supposed to have a good 3-5 slams at this point. Yet he has only won Mickey Mouse ones.
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Why is he supposed to have three-five Slams by now? I think you are using him as a peg on which to hang his entire generation. But that's not fair to him. He's not a world beater, but he is a solid top-ten player. It's nothing to do with him that there isn't another player of his age who is a world beater. It's one thing to say that the generation is weak. It's another to say that a top ten player is weak because nobody else of his age is a top three player. Every top ten player is phenomenally successful, regardless of whether his generation as a whole is so.
 
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