By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, April 22, 2016
Kei Nishikori denied four set points then reeled off nine straight games to seal a 7-5, 6-0 win over Alexandr Dolgopolov and Barcelona semifinal spot.
Photo credit: Barcelona Open BancSabadell
The baseline resembled a starting line as Alexandr Dolgopolov propelled himself into the court pounding jolting returns to earn four set points against Kei Nishikori.
Denying all four set points with buzz-kill efficiency, Nishikori spent the rest of the match deconstructing Dolgopolov.
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Spurred on by his 10th game stand, Nishikori ripped through nine straight games dismissing Dolgopolov, 7-5, 6-0, to advance to his third semifinal of the season.
The two-time defending champion scored his 13th consecutive victory in Barcelona raising his record to 18-3 at the historic Real Club de Tenis.
Nishikori will put his streak to the test against his nemesis Benoit Paire for a place in Sunday's final.
The sixth-seeded Frenchman rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 decision over Malek Jaziri in today's first quarterfinal. Paire hit six aces and six double faults advancing to his third semifinal of the season.
The Paire-Nishikori clash pits two of the best two-handed backhands in the game. Paire hit his two-hander with damaging intentions upsetting Nishikori at the 2015 US Open and backing up that win rallying past the Japanese in the 2015 Tokyo semifinals.
The second seed had his hands full against Dolgopolov throughout much of the opening set. The world No. 30 shifted directions of his shots shrewdly. Dolgopolov had lost all eight prior sets between the pair, but earned a major opportunity to break through today.
Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Nishikori withstood four set points in succession to completely change the tenor of the match. Dolgopolov was punishing the former US Open finalist's second serve off both wings by then.
A sharp-angled backhand return opened the point; Dolgopolov drilled two strong smashes to end it earning set point. Nishikori saved it swatting a second serve off the service line.
A beautiful forehand drop volley gave Dolgopolov a second set point, but he sprayed a shot and couldn't convert. Testing the champion on his third set point, Dolgopolov narrowly missed the sideline with a topspin lob. Nishikori nullified a fourth set point with a biting forehand down the line working through a pressure-packed hold for 5-all.
Refusing to yield the baseline, Dolgopolov denied three break points before poking an off-balance backhand into the tape to face a fourth break point. Creeping inside the baseline to greet a second serve with disdain, Nishikori never relinquished control of the point coaxing an error to break for 6-5.
All the good work Dolgopolov did during the first 45 minutes of play dissipated in the final two games. Nishikori went into lockdown mode, draining errors to serve out the first set at 15.
Fueled by a one-set lead, an empowered Nishikori was off to the races.
Dolgopolov is flashy. Nishikori is flashy with a strong fundamental foundation that doesn't crack as often as his opponent. Dolgopolov sailed a pair of rally balls dropping serve for the second time in a row to start the second set.
Nishikori smoked a return that left a flat-footed Dolgopolov watching the ball buzz by for a third break and 3-0 lead.
The Miami Open finalist closed in 79 minutes. Nishikori has not dropped a set in tournament wins over Thiemo de Bakker, Jeremy Chardy and Dolgopolov, but can expect an even tougher match against Paire.