Eighth seed Kei Nishikori battled past big-hitting Spanish lefty Fernando Verdasco, recovering from a rough first set to win 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 to advance to the French Open quarterfinals.
Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori fought off the barrage of big-hitting from veteran Spanish lefty Fernando Verdasco, weathering a 6-0 opening set from Verdasco to come back and win 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 to reach his second French Ope quarterfinal. Nishikori, who has been pushed to four or five sets in three of his four matches so far this fortnight, has spent a grueling amount of time on court, but the Japanese superstars’ trademark strength in four or five set matches allowed him to outlast his 33-year-old opponent, who was the oldest competitor remaining in the men’s draw in the round of 16.
In the opening set, it was Nishikori, a quarterfinalist at Roland Garros in 2015, under siege by a barrage of Verdasco’s trademark lefty forehands, as the Spaniard was dominant on serve and return in the opening four games to grab a double break lead for 4-0. The unseeded Verdasco saved a break point in the fifth game of the set to hold on for 5-0, consolidating that double break advantage and forcing Nishikori to serve to stay in the opening set. Verdasco, a former champion in Barcelona, was ruthless in punishing the Japanese’s serve, breaking to love to seal the dominant bagel set 6-0 in under 30 minutes.
The second set was a far different affair, as the red-hot Verdasco forehand seemed to cool down, allowing the eighth seed a pipeline back into the match. The pair exchanged breaks of serve in the first two games of the set before serve reigned dominant for the ensuing six games to bring the scoreline to an even 4-all. The unseeded Spaniard had game points to go up 5-4 in the ninth game, but Nishikori’s improved return game paid dividends, surviving a lengthy deuce game to eventually seize the break and give himself the chance to serve to level the match at a set all. Nishikori made no mistake with his opening, serving out the second set comfortably to take the set 6-4 and level the match at a set apiece.
The third set was very similar to the second, as the 2014 US Open finalist’s level continued to improve whilst the errors begun to pile up for Verdasco. Nishikori broke in the third game of the set for 2-1, but that lead was short-lived as three games later the Spaniard pegged right back, breaking fairly easily to level the set at 3-all. A marathon service game then ensued on Verdasco’s serve, as the unseeded veteran squandered two game points before Nishikori eventually broke through on his fifth time of asking to gain the break and go up 4-3. After the Japanese superstar consolidated the break easily, the 33-year-old left-hander saved a set point on his serve at 5-3 to hold for 5-4 and force Nishikori to serve it out. The eighth seed did just that, holding routinely to take the third set 6-4 and send himself a set from the last eight in Paris.
The fourth set was a complete role reversal of the opening set, as this time around Nishikori’s trademark mental strength and fitness wore down a struggling Verdasco. The 2015 Roland Garros quarterfinalist begun brightly in the fourth, going up love-40 before finally breaking the Verdasco serve to take the break. Nishikori was forced to come back from love-40 himself, saving three break points on his own serve to consolidate the advantage before sealing a double break the following game for 3-0. After a routine hold of serve, the Japanese superstar continued his dominance of the Verdasco serve, continuing to break at will for a 5-0 lead. With an opportunity to serve out the match, Nishikori made no mistake of this chance, holding to love to finish off a bagel set of his own and book his spot in the French Open quarterfinals for a second time 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0.
Following the match, Nishikori was asked about the crazy scoreline of his fourth round match. The Japanese eighth seed said, “Yeah, a little bit unusual. I think he started really well, especially this court’s bounce really high today and he was using very heavy forehand and I was running side to side. I couldn’t do anything first set but I try tried to play a little more heavy and a little more aggressive sometimes, and start working a little bit better.”
“But still it was really, really tough battle. There was so many long rallies, second and third sets. I don’t know. I don’t know how I get the second and third. But, yeah, a little bit gained some confidence during second and third. The fourth, I think it was perfect tennis I played.
So, yeah, very tough battle but very happy to win today,” said a relieved Nishikori.
Nishikori will next face world number one and defending finalist Andy Murray in the quarterfinals after the Brit recorded a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Next Gen star Karen Khachanov. Murray and Nishikori will battle for a spot in the French Open semifinals on Wednesday in Paris.
Asked about the prospect of facing the top seed on Wednesday in the last eight, Nishikori said, “Yeah, we have been playing so many times. Yeah, he’s great player. Very smart tennis player.”
“It’s never easy, and I think this week he’s been playing well and very — watching some matches. He’s hitting great balls. So I’m sure it’s gonna be tough one, but try to enjoy and try to win the match.” concluded a confident Nishikori.
