Kei Nishikori: will he challenge the Big 3(/4)?

[herios]

in the last 2 slams (USO and AO), he lost to the eventual winner. These last 2 runs are even more significant.

Nishi was beaten by Stan in Oz, and quite heavily, too...

Yeah, brain fart on my side:huh:

 

[Federberg]

I really like Kei and enjoyed seeing him demolish Rafa a year ago. And yes, Kieran, we know what would have happened if he didn't come up lame. Matches can turn, but Kei was totally dominating Rafa.

I'm surprised to see people say that Kei doesn't have enough weapons - I think he does. In a way he reminds me a bit of a Baby Sampras. What he seems to lack is stamina which makes me think he'll never win a Slam, but could be the best candidate outside of current winners to take a Masters (with Raonic and Dimitrov right behind him). That said, he did make it to a Slam final, so if he did it once he could do it again. As some have mentioned, he was out of gas by then - but I think he lost more because Cilic was playing at an absurd level. He was unbeatable, really.

I'm surprised he reminds you of Sampras. He reminds me more of Agassi. Personally I think he can do a bit more work to improve his conditioning, and also his serve. These are the only things that might hold him back. He definitely has slam winning potential imho

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I really like Kei and enjoyed seeing him demolish Rafa a year ago. And yes, Kieran, we know what would have happened if he didn't come up lame. Matches can turn, but Kei was totally dominating Rafa.

I'm surprised to see people say that Kei doesn't have enough weapons - I think he does. In a way he reminds me a bit of a Baby Sampras. What he seems to lack is stamina which makes me think he'll never win a Slam, but could be the best candidate outside of current winners to take a Masters (with Raonic and Dimitrov right behind him). That said, he did make it to a Slam final, so if he did it once he could do it again. As some have mentioned, he was out of gas by then - but I think he lost more because Cilic was playing at an absurd level. He was unbeatable, really.

I'm surprised he reminds you of Sampras. He reminds me more of Agassi. Personally I think he can do a bit more work to improve his conditioning, and also his serve. These are the only things that might hold him back. He definitely has slam winning potential imho

I think you guys are both right. Kei takes the ball early like Andre, but has the mindset of Pete when it comes to attacking, in my opinion.

 

[Kieran]

What about the Chang Effect on Nishi? One of the more successful forays of old champs back into the game. In fact, there's been a few successful ones, but I think this one has a great narrative, and that Michael's own experience on court has been expressed in Nishi's improvements...

 

[El Dude]

The Baby Sampras thing comes from watching him against Rafa last year at Madrid. I was surprised at how good his serve was, and how he wanted to finish points off quickly like Pete did. It isn't a close comp, but there was a similar quality.

Here's another way to look at it: the better he plays, the more he optimizes his best qualities, the more like a Baby Sampras he looks.

 

[Federberg]

The Baby Sampras thing comes from watching him against Rafa last year at Madrid. I was surprised at how good his serve was, and how he wanted to finish points off quickly like Pete did. It isn't a close comp, but there was a similar quality.

Here's another way to look at it: the better he plays, the more he optimizes his best qualities, the more like a Baby Sampras he looks.

I'm probably being nitpicky But didn't Andre optimise his best qualities too? I think I get where you're trying to go, and in deference to Murat's post as well.. but Pete's vibe (for me at least) was a bit different. It was uber alpha dog, that comes from his perception of the dominance of his serve. On Kei's best day he doesn't have that vibe... at least (and I repeat) to me... No biggy though!

 

[Srini]

He has some way to go but he is the one I feel who will challenge the big 4 first - not Dimitrov or Raonic. He has a good game and a great attitude. He has only steadily risen in rankings, there was no let down. How durable he will be, is the only question in my mind.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nishikori has a big serve? And no, he won't.