By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, January 23, 2016
Kei Nishikori dissected Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third time in the last five years.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Blitzing to a one-set, 5-2 lead, Kei Nishikori left one of the game's biggest hitters looking a little dazed and confused by the barrage.
Gliding forward to angle off a forehand volley and earn set point, Nisikori had no time for celebration. He paused to redirect Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who had wandered to the wrong side, back to the right side of the court.
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Even when he wasn't driving deep topspin to displace Tsonga behind the baseline, Nishikori was still calling the shots.
Straddling the baseline and creating sharp angles, Nishikori shredded a strained Tsonga, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to storm into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third time in the last five years.
The seventh-seeded Japanese will take on either world No. 1 Novak Djokovic or 14th-seeded Gilles Simon for a spot in the final four.
Since Nishikori upset Djokovic in the 2014 US Open semifinals, the 10-time Grand Slam champion has reeled off four straight wins, including a 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of Nishikori at the World Tour Finals last November.
Nishikori wasted no time carving up the former Australian Open finalist today.
Tsonga, who appeared to be hampered by a strained back, took a medical timeout for treatment midway through the second set. By then, Nishikori had already dispensed some stinging baseline punishment.
"I was just a little blocked with my back. But nothing important, you know, to stop or to say I'm not able to play," Tsonga said.
This was the third Grand Slam clash between the pair; Nishikori prevailed in five sets at the 2012 Australian Open and Tsonga dug out a five-set win in the Roland Garros quarterfinals last season.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Frenchman hits a heavier ball, but Nishikori took the ball earlier and beat the bigger man to the punch at the outset. Nishikori broke twice bursting out to a 5-1 lead in both the first and second sets.
"I'm surprised that I broke him early every set. I was returning well today, so that makes I think tough for him to have good serve all the time," Nishikori said. "Seems like he doesn't have many first serve in today. That makes me easy to return my game. I think today was very good tactics for me. Played very patient.
"When I have opportunity, I tried to come in sometimes. Using my forehands more and very aggressive certain moment. Yeah, I felt like everything was working well today."
Tsonga began clubbing his forehand with more authority. He saved a set point and broke back for 3-5, but it was a temporary reprieve.
Zapping an inside-out forehand winner, Nishikori closed an impressive 40-minute first set.
The 2008 finalist slid an ace down the middle to save a break point in the first game of the second set. Nishikori continued to work angles in running rallies. When Tsonga flagged a running forehand into net, Nishikori had the break and a 2-1 lead.
Continuing to dissect the Frenchman's backhand side, Nishikori earned a 4-1 double-break lead. Tsonga took a medical time-out for treatment of an apparent back injury.
When play resumed, Nishikori did not let up. A stab volley off a serve and volley winner followed by his first ace extended Nishikori's lead to 5-1.
Fast hands and impeccable timing enable Nishikori to take the ball on the rise. He robbed Tsonga of reaction time, breaking to start the third set.
Forced out of position, Tsonga tried playing down the lines to shorten points, but could not close the gap. Nishikori raised his Melbourne record to 20-6 reaching his fifth career major quarterfinal.
"It's great to finish straight sets always, especially Grand Slam is two weeks, so it's long time," Nishikori said. "It's great to finish quick. Actually, I'm feeling great. You know, even I think (if I have to) play four or five sets, I should be okay."