Aus open prediction game: Day 10

Raonic (32) vs Pouille (50)

Djokovic (5) vs Nishikori (40)

Osaka (10) vs Svitolina (15) 

Serena (16) vs Pliskova (7)


LS: Raonic, Nishi, Osaka, Serena

Other than struggling through early matches to get massacred by a good player allegedly because he's exhausted, or alternatively beating a good player early only to be massacred by a decent one later because he's again "exhausted" , what exactly is the point of Kei Nishikori?

bogbrush wrote:Other than struggling through early matches to get massacred by a good player allegedly because he's exhausted, or alternatively beating a good player early only to be massacred by a decent one later because he's again "exhausted" , what exactly is the point of Kei Nishikori?

The point of Nishikori is he is highly watchable.

Oh no... retirement..

God sake Kei, choker of the decade, play like a moron 5 setters and come SF is totally dismantled, fuck uuuu

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

bogbrush wrote:Other than struggling through early matches to get massacred by a good player allegedly because he's exhausted, or alternatively beating a good player early only to be massacred by a decent one later because he's again "exhausted" , what exactly is the point of Kei Nishikori?

The point of Nishikori is he is highly watchable.

Should of gone to work for a Circuis or in Ninja Movies than, not sports where one has to win something.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

bogbrush wrote:Other than struggling through early matches to get massacred by a good player allegedly because he's exhausted, or alternatively beating a good player early only to be massacred by a decent one later because he's again "exhausted" , what exactly is the point of Kei Nishikori?

The point of Nishikori is he is highly watchable.

Really? When you know what he's going to do?

The guy is a waste of time I'm afraid, a serial quitter due to physical inadequacy.

Puille-Feta cheese final, comeonnn

16:2 Djoko/Kei h2h, what a joke.

The h2h itself isn't a problem to me; Djokovic is a great player who would be expected to beat a lesser one like Nishikori. My problem is that if I had the option of buying a ticket and I knew it was to be a semi or quarter involving Nishikori, I'd pass because I would expect an uncompetitive match. Sure, any 1st few rounds match involving him could be a great watch as he'd give a better player a great match (e.g. Federer AO 2017) or potentially go long with a lesser player (such as his earlier rounds this year) but come the later stages he's a blow out and I wouldn't expect value for money.

Yesterday I suggested that Nadal would be tucked up in bed enjoying watching the carnage and knowing his side of the draw has the rest day whilst his potential opponents are grinding through tough 4-5 setters.

If he was, today might have given him a little food for thought.  We'll see - but I still say, 'come on Tsitsi'.

how many times has NIhskori retired with Nole as an oponent?

Not many actually, only 1 Retirement today, and 2 walk overs, I thought it's more.

How many times has he limped through a match and been soundly tonked due to impairment?

About 7 times it seems results are 61-61, 61-62, 62-63 guessing these must be limping loses, quick ones.

Feels like this tournament is ending in a Djokdal match now. I’d be very surprised if Tsitsipas makes any impression on Rafa and Pouille isn’t going to be able to grind a result against Novak. 

I’m looking forward to that match if it does come to pass. Feels like it’s the first time in a long time it’s hard to know which of them will win. Usually I’d favour Novak on hard but Rafa’s form looks awesome so far here.

Nadal is lucky not to have to deal with Fed instead. Fed dd not play badly v Tsi but he was very unlucky to get to such a low BP conversion rate.

Tsi will probably lack the experience to play Nadal. Fed has it!

I still think novak is the strong favourite

Maybe a warm favorite not a strong one.

naxroy wrote:I still think novak is the strong favourite

He’s WN1, 6times AO champ, has positive h2h with Nadal, esp on hard courts....so yes, it’s hard to disagree.
However, based on their last match on grass which was very close, and AO using big slower balls with more bounce than SW19, Nole is a 60% favourite at best.

If it comes to that final, I’d be curious to see if Nadal was still going to play all court aggressive tactics he used in Wimbledon.
Also, if he’s worked on his BHDTL.

In the meantime...ALE RE STEPHANEEEE!

noleisthebest wrote:

naxroy wrote:I still think novak is the strong favourite

He’s WN1, 6times AO champ, has positive h2h with Nadal, esp on hard courts....so yes, it’s hard to disagree.
However, based on their last match on grass which was very close, and AO using big slower balls with more bounce than SW19, Nole is a 60% favourite at best.

If it comes to that final, I’d be curious to see if Nadal was still going to play all court aggressive tactics he used in Wimbledon.
Also, if he’s worked on his BHDTL.

In the meantime...ALE RE STEPHANEEEE!

well, I have to agree with everything you said

I dont root for tsitsipas against nadal though, but if the greek gets to the final I will be happy for him, its good to see new faces

Djok is strong favourite and Nadal finally has an opponent before the final.

bogbrush wrote:How many times has he limped through a match and been soundly tonked due to impairment?

I bet he's never finished a full meal in his life. So no hope he'll finish match!