Why no love for Nishikori?

[Stretchy Man]

He's been in the top 10 for the last two years, been as high as 4, and reached a final of a major, but he doesn't seem to get enough credit. Commentators know very little about him and instead crap on about what a great job Michael Chang is doing, forgetting the fact that he was doing fine before he came along and that he is only his assistant coach.

Yes his serve sucks, but has excellent offense and defense, often comes to the net, and is very quick around the court. One of the best backhands in the game. Yet there was no mention of him in either the "Best Backhands" thread, the "Fastest tennis players" thread, or the "Best comeback players" thread.

I wonder if he gets ignored because he's lacking charisma or there's another reason...

 

[Nostradamus]

because he isn't American. we like American stars

 

[Stretchy Man]

That can't be the reason. There's only one American in the top 20 and he's no star. He's one of the most boring players in the history of the game.

 

[gn]

Some say he is overrated. But he is the only guy to reach a Majors Final for whoever born in or after 1989. I like his aggressive play especially his aggressive return. Shorter players have the disadvantage on their serve. It would help him if he is couple of inches taller than he is. As for your question, this one will probably be ignored because this thread does not have the keyword GOAT, weak era, Djokovic or Federer.

 

[SirAMD]

He and Raonic are actually my favorite players to watch outside big4

 

[HipRotation]

Nishi is pretty popular, he gets a lot of praise but it was more vocal in 2014-early 15 when he was having all the breakthroughs. I think a few people have gotten tired of his injuries though.

Our hype thread posters are more concerned with younger players at the moment.

 

[SirAMD]

Nishi is pretty popular, he gets a lot of praise but it was more vocal in 2014-early 15 when he was having all the breakthroughs. I think a few people have gotten tired of his injuries though.

Our hype thread posters are more concerned with younger players at the moment.

I agree with you!!! NiShikori injuries have keeping him to not achieve is momentum and thats bad for tennis!!! He keeps getting injurie after injurie...

 

[Nostradamus]

That can't be the reason. There's only one American in the top 20 and he's no star. He's one of the most boring players in the history of the game.

agree, nishi didn't win that us open and that really hurt him. when he does win a major, he will be superstar in the globe.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

i like kei's game

 

[Mr.Lob]

Why no love? Because he hasn't won anything.

 

[mattosgrant]

Well a large reason is he has dissapointed. He put together a great run at the 2014 U.S Open with some really nice wins. Even beating Djokovic who didnt truly play badly except for the 4th set when he was already down 2 sets to 1. Then he pretty much tanks out in a winnable match vs Cilic who he had a great personal record against until then, barely putting up a fight. Since then he has not made any big runs, heck forget big runs he hasnt even had any big individual wins since that U.S Open. People have been waiting for a surge with him and has even gone backwards again. He is already mid 20s and needed to continue the momentum he started at the 2014 U.S Open, not regressing. People are dissapointed with his progress (or lack thereof) he isnt going to be praised by general fans who are already frusterated with the lack of productions from his generation, for that.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

I like Nishikori. When he's on, his groundstrokes are wicked. He takes the ball early, and I like his aggression. A little disadvantaged physically, but he does seem extremely fit. Wish he didn't get injured so much.

I'll tell you a match that I loved, despite the outcome: Madrid final, 2014. He was up 6-2, 4-2 before his back seized up or something. But he was taking Nadal to the woodshed, and it was one of these matches that you knew would eventually come... but it still amazed. I mean he was dominating.

 

[Stretchy Man]

Anyone like to take a stab at why Nishikori gets so much flack when Tommy Haas, Del Potro, Nadal, and Brian Baker get respect for battling injuries?

One of these players is not like the others,
One of these players doesn't belong,
Can you tell which player is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

 

[Gazelle]

Serious question?

1) He's boring
2) He's always injured
3) He's 2-5000 against top players

 

[Stretchy Man]

Serious question?

1) He's boring
2) He's always injured
3) He's 2-5000 against top players

1. I think you're thinking of Michael Chang. You probably think they look the same.
2. Nothing like Del Potro.
3. Fake news. VS Wawrinka 4-4, Tsonga 5-3, Raonic 5-2, Cilic 7-6, Cilic 7-6, Ferrer 8-4.

 

[heninfan99]

He's well liked he just hasn't been a factor recently. Lot's of good tennis players out there to follow.

 

[fedtennisphan]

Please, nobody is obligated to like Nishikori.

 

[cataclysm]

Please, nobody is obligated to like Nishikori.

Yes, meanwhile if someone says they don't like Federer or Nadal, all hell breaks loose.







And yes, I dislike Federer and Nadal.

 

[sportmac]

i like kei's game

Agree. Clean ball striker. I've always liked those guys that don't retreat and take the ball early. He's not quite a Davydenko but he'll stand on the baseline and take all kinds of pace and send it back to open spaces.

 

[cataclysm]

Agree. Clean ball striker. I've always liked those guys that don't retreat and take the ball early. He's not quite a Davydenko but he'll stand on the baseline and take all kinds of pace and send it back to open spaces.

Difference is that Davydenko has choked a whole load of big games. Nishikori usually just loses to a player playing better than him (if he's not retiring from injury).

 

[Shaolin]

Love his game, hate how he's always injured or supposedly injured.

 

[sportmac]

Difference is that Davydenko has choked a whole load of big games. Nishikori usually just loses to a player playing better than him (if he's not retiring from injury).

Yeah, just talking about style of play, not the success/failure of it.

 

[West Coast Ace]

Anyone like to take a stab at why Nishikori gets so much flack when Tommy Haas, Del Potro, Nadal, and Brian Baker get respect for battling injuries?

The race card? Pathetic.

Love his game, hate how he's always injured or supposedly injured.

Even when he's not hurt he walks around between points like his dog just died. But phenomenal when he's on. Chang is doing a great job of getting him to sneak in and end points faster when possible.

 

[fedtennisphan]

Yes, meanwhile if someone says they don't like Federer or Nadal, all hell breaks loose.







And yes, I dislike Federer and Nadal.

And nobody cares whether or not you like Federer or Nadal. I stand by what I said.

 

[Roddick85]

I like Nishikori's game, but I don't think he will ever be able to maximize his potential because he's very injury prone.

 

[TennisATP]

I lost any respect for him when he left the court at the Olympics for 15 minutes right after Nadal turned the match around and won the 2nd set. I've seen Nishikori do this many times against many opponents as soon as he starts losing. It's not a coincidence.

 

[True Fanerer]

1. I think you're thinking of Michael Chang. You probably think they look the same.
2. Nothing like Del Potro.
3. Fake news. VS Wawrinka 4-4, Tsonga 5-3, Raonic 5-2, Cilic 7-6, Cilic 7-6, Ferrer 8-4.

Had a winning record early on against Fedovic too

 

[suwanee4712]

agree, nishi didn't win that us open and that really hurt him. when he does win a major, he will be superstar in the globe.

I agree losing that US Open final was very telling. I think it showed, as good as he is, he doesn't really have the game to win a major. At least that is how I think people now feel about him. But he has nothing to hang his head about. If he does win a slam one day I will be very happy for him. Until then he likely won't get the respect from the fans that he deserves.

 

[Mainad]

I agree losing that US Open final was very telling. I think it showed, as good as he is, he doesn't really have the game to win a major. At least that is how I think people now feel about him. But he has nothing to hang his head about. If he does win a slam one day I will be very happy for him. Until then he likely won't get the respect from the fans that he deserves.

I don't think losing that US Open final was particularly telling in itself. It was his maiden Slam final and players often fall flat on that occasion. What is probably more telling is that he hasn't come close to making another one since in the last 3 years.

 

[deacsyoga]

I don't think losing that US Open final was particularly telling in itself. It was his maiden Slam final and players often fall flat on that occasion. What is probably more telling is that he hasn't come close to making another one since in the last 3 years.

Yeah that was fine but he hasnt built off it since. Which is a huge dissapointment, especialy as I always had higher hopes for him than say Raonic.

U.S Open last year was even dissapointing since he had that huge win over Murray, and played Stan who he had been doing well against on hard courts recently, and beat easily in Canada. Stan wasnt even playing that well in the semis either, not nearly as well as he did vs Del Potro and Djokovic. This was a huge shot for Nishikori, especialy with Djokovic clearly vurnerable. Still couldnt do it.

I dont have high hopes he can ever win a major at this point.

 

[Mainad]

Yeah that was fine but he hasnt built off it since. Which is a huge dissapointment, especialy as I always had higher hopes for him than say Raonic.

U.S Open last year was even dissapointing since he had that huge win over Murray, and played Stan who he had been doing well against on hard courts recently, and beat easily in Canada. Stan wasnt even playing that well in the semis either, not nearly as well as he did vs Del Potro and Djokovic. This was a huge shot for Nishikori, especialy with Djokovic clearly vurnerable. Still couldnt do it.

I dont have high hopes he can ever win a major at this point.

He just can't seem to get fit enough to stay the course through 7 best of 5 matches. That was a major factor why he didn't do better in the 2014 USO final. Great shame for him. Raonic seems just as injury prone but at least he came close to making 2 Slam finals last year (with that narrow loss to Murray in the AO semis).

 

[deacsyoga]

He just can't seem to get fit enough to stay the course through 7 best of 5 matches. That was a major factor why he didn't do better in the 2014 USO final. Great shame for him. Raonic seems just as injury prone but at least he came close to making 2 Slam finals last year (with that narrow loss to Murray in the AO semis).

I agree, and he started to look fatigued late in the Wawrinka semi last year. I think part of his problem is he doesnt have the physical strength to win a series of tough matches in a row, and he isnt good enough to win a string of matches vs tough opponents easily either. I think he would need a draw to open up and only need 1 or 2 big wins to ever pull off a slam win.

Agree on Raonic too.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I have little respect for players like Kei (or Raonic) who endlessly enter draws and then retire during their first match, or even worse, retire during matches, as Kei does frequently. Djoker's retirements (five times in majors) is a major reason I have never rooted for him. If Kei isn't fit to take the court, remove himself from the draw prior to that happening. Kei has always been over hyped. He'll never win a major and I think will just gradually fade from the game from injuries.

 

[merlinpinpin]

Nishikori doesn't need love from us, he needs a fitness coach and a good physician. And probably a miracle cure for all ailments, too.

 

[Shaolin]

Nishikori doesn't need love from us, he needs a fitness coach and a good physician. And probably a miracle cure for all ailments, too.

He needs a month on that futuristic hospital bed from the Wolverine movie before each slam.

 

[merlinpinpin]

He needs a month on that futuristic hospital bed from the Wolverine movie before each slam.

Well, at least, he's from the right country, to start with. This counts for something, surely...

 

[dgold44]

He's been in the top 10 for the last two years, been as high as 4, and reached a final of a major, but he doesn't seem to get enough credit. Commentators know very little about him and instead crap on about what a great job Michael Chang is doing, forgetting the fact that he was doing fine before he came along and that he is only his assistant coach.

Yes his serve sucks, but has excellent offense and defense, often comes to the net, and is very quick around the court. One of the best backhands in the game. Yet there was no mention of him in either the "Best Backhands" thread, the "Fastest tennis players" thread, or the "Best comeback players" thread.

I wonder if he gets ignored because he's lacking charisma or there's another reason...

His serve is the weakest in the top 20

 

[tacou]

Anyone like to take a stab at why Nishikori gets so much flack when Tommy Haas, Del Potro, Nadal, and Brian Baker get respect for battling injuries?

One of these players is not like the others,
One of these players doesn't belong,
Can you tell which player is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

LOL you compared Nishikori to Nadal in terms of adoration?? Hmm what is the difference between their careers..

Brian Baker is a "feel good" story that pops up once in a blue moon. He does not regularly get stomped by superior competition.

Haas' injury history makes Kei look like superman and he still managed a better career. Maybe he will start getting the same sympathy soon though.

And Delpo. One of the most likable guys on tour who takes it to the top guys whenever he can. Pretty much the opposite of kei.

edit: I personally like his game, but it is frustrating how frequently he either withdraws or gets obliterated

 

[The Green Mile]

Something about how he carries himself on court is somewhat off-putting at times. Often looks disinterested and lackadaisical. Many injuries which halt any sort of momentum, it's unfortunate for sure. I like his game when he is playing well, but when he is playing poor, it's a tad depressing watching him on the court..

 

[EdSWright]

High hopes then disappointment. I think he's been very entertaining.

 

[nikdom]

OP you're wrong; Kei's game has a lot of fans and I don't think nationality is a barrier as some have opined.

It's just that the results haven't matched the potential he's credited with.

The injury issues that have been a disappointment one time too many so people are wary of talking him up.

On the positive side, I guess people understand that it's not because of a lack of will/intent/effort on his part (unlike some players from a continent close to Japan), so there is still goodwill if he can somehow pull a Djokovic and turn around the physical issues.

 

[gn]

I don't think losing that US Open final was particularly telling in itself. It was his maiden Slam final and players often fall flat on that occasion. What is probably more telling is that he hasn't come close to making another one since in the last 3 years.

IMO, he should have skipped first half of this season to play this very tournament. He performs well here more than anywhere else. He was actually cruising against Stan last year until he ran out of gas. Pretty unlucky to draw Mury, Stan and Djok in a row. I can only hope that he comes back stronger next year and has not given up. Wondering how confident he is given the next Gen is catching up.

 

[disgruntledamsel]

Who wasn't a fan of Nishi during the gong match with Andy? I saved that drama on my TiVo for a good laugh now and then

 

[Stretchy Man]

The race card? Pathetic.

I really hope I'm wrong, but that's how casual racism works. Casual racists have no problem supporting winners (who doesn't like Samuel L Jackson), it's the less successful members of those races they have a problem with.

 

[Stretchy Man]

His serve is the weakest in the top 20

I think you're too generous. His game hasn't progressed at all for 3 years, and his serve is a huge liability. Now it looks like his service action has just ruined his wrist.

The blame has to lie with his two coaches, and with Kei not firing them earlier. Chang came from an era where you could serve powder puffs and still win majors with some help from Jesus.

Kohlschreiber is the same height but has a very good serve. Very accurate, big kicker, all with a very simple action. He just won a title by serving around 10 aces per match without a single double fault that I can remember.

 

[albertobra]

I like Key. There is that irritating thing that he pretty much constantly goes to loker room between sets, curiously when he is down on scoreboard.

 

[Tommy Haas]

I like Key. There is that irritating thing that he pretty much constantly goes to loker room between sets, curiously when he is down on scoreboard.

Does a tournament official stand watch in the locker room if a player is there in between sets to keep them honest and not to call for coaching?

 

[Tommy Haas]

The blame has to lie with his two coaches, and with Kei not firing them earlier. Chang came from an era where you could serve powder puffs and still win majors with some help from Jesus.

Chang was and still is very religious.

 

[Newballs]

He's big in Japan...

 

[albertobra]

As far as I know a linesman ref has to go with player to locker room to make sure he does only allowed things (for example I believe player cannot take shower).
The fact is that it's "known" that players do this to try to break opponent momentum when in in trouble (and it is kind of accepted). The thing is that Nishikori does it a little more than normal.
I recall a Fed extreme reaction on this kind of behavior from Nishi on a 5 setter AO match.

Does a tournament official stand watch in the locker room if a player is there in between sets to keep them honest and not to call for coaching?