Nishikori Faces Isner In Miami Quarter-Finals

Kei Nishikori will take on John Isner in the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters tomorrow in what will be the first time that the two men have ever met on court. Nishikori will be looking to equal his best ever finish in the Miami Masters, recorded last year when reaching the tournament`s semi-final stage. On his road to the final four, the Japanese player saw off Marinko Matosevic (6-4, 6-1), Grigor Dimitrov (7-6, 7-5), David Ferrer (7-6, 2-6, 7-6) and Roger Federer (3-6, 7-5, 6-4). A groin injury forced the then 20 seed to withdraw prior to his final four encounter with Novak Djokovic. The Serbian star would go on to beat Rafael Nadal in the final of the competition (6-3, 6-3).

By reaching this stage of the tournament, Isner has already bettered his best ever Miami Masters finishes. The American had reached the fourth round in both 2011 and 2014. In the earlier competition he exited at the hands of Kevin Anderson (6-3, 7-6) after victories over Igor Andreev (6-4, 5-7, 7-6) and Alex Bogomolov Jr. (6-2, 7-6). Last season, the now 29-year-old knocked out Donald Young (6-7, 6-3, 6-4) and Nicolas Almagro (7-5, 6-3) before biting the dust against Tomas Berdych (6-3, 7-5).

As a result of his better finishes and superior world ranking, world number five Nishikori is the favourite to get the better of Isner in their first ever tie. sportingbet have the best price on a win by any means for the Shimane star, that price being 4/9. In opposition Isner, ranked 24th in the world, is available at 9/4 at a trio of bookmakers. These bookies are bet365, ladbrokes and Skybet.

Twenty-five-year-old Nishikori is yet to drop a set in this year`s Miami Masters and is available at 23/20 (sportingbet) to secure another straight sets triumph. Indeed the 5`10" star, who is a foot shorter than tomorrow`s opponent, has won all six of the sets he has played by either six games to two or six games to one. Could there be value in the 14/1 and 28/1 (both boylesports, william hill) on offer on Nishikori taking the first set by scores of either 6-2 and 6-1?

Receiving a bye into the second round thanks to his seeded status, Nishikori`s second round tie against Mikhail Youzny ended 6-2, 6-1 in the Japanese star`s favour. Viktor Troicki was also dispatched by a first set score of 6-2, this also being the score in the second set of their third round match. Finally, in round four, the tournament`s 18th seed David Goffin could only take one game off Nishikori in the first set before losing the second by six games to two.

An Australian Open quarter-finalist this year, Nishikori will be looking to add his ninth title to his tally of ATP career wins after scooping the Memphis Open prize before losing out in the final of the Acapulco tournament. The Florida resident is a 14/1 (Stan James) shot to take home the title.

Isner will then have to be on top form should he want to oust the Japanese player though hasn`t done so bad himself in this tournament, having kicked to the wayside two top 10 seeded rivals. The second round saw Isner take down Russia`s Andrey Rublev in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) before taking down world number nine Grigor Dimitrov (7-6, 6-2) and the man ranked fifth in the world Milos Raonic (6-7, 7-6, 7-6). As Isner has played four tie-breaks just in this one tournament, Coral`s 5/4 says that there will be a tie-break at the end of the first set. The American is 11/2 (bet365, Bwin, william hill) to record another two set to one victory whilst a third straight sets win can also be backed at 11/2 at boylesports.

Go To bet365

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01/04/2015     © Frixo 2024