Roger Federer v Kei Nishikori Full Match | Australian Open 2017 Fourth Round

Roger Federer v Kei Nishikori Full Match | Australian Open 2017 Fourth Round

[Music] play. [Applause] 15 off. Picking up where he left off against Berdick. Oh, that’s good. Well, for the people at home who love their tennis, look at Nishikorish or at least sometimes listen to Nishikor’s footwork during this match. Well, it’s Roger’s feet you can hear moving at the moment because Nishakori dominating off the second serve and finding that back end early off the return. so crucial to do when he take on [Music] Federra. That servant volley thing’s not quite as easy to do as Zu 1540. How good is this? First serve finding his range in time. Perhaps the same header in this opening service game. That was close to being good, but uh Roger not wasting time to come to the net. He’ll take on anything that’s short. Aggressive second serve from Federate. Stunning from the left side. Ball was going. It looked like a blistering pass to me. How clean is Nishikori already hitting the ball? You know, just in that first game on return. That’s how clean it is by a millimeter. that precise on the right center service line was delivering excellence and perfection already in the opening game. Well, we all think well let’s slowly make our way into this match after this unbelievable upset we just witnessed. We have two challenges remaining. Just keep on going. It’s just one of these days. 22nd of January [Applause] [Music] 2017 lost as many points on his first serve in this match than he did in the entirety against Berdick. Oh, this is good. Oh, don’t see that often. Roger in the first game that fired up. It’s going to be a good night. [Applause] He can take the ball so quickly and he can angle that back hands just such a pace. This one right here. again not allowing Federa to settle with the forehand after the serve for that’s one game the perfect style for Nishakuri first [Applause] Annie Murray Novak Novak Jookovic. I say it because Yu Simon, who a lot of people feel has a very high tennis IQ, says that having played him that he has the best double hander. He moves it around the court a lot easier. Whether it’s as good on defense as others, I guess, is open to debate. First service for service. Well, in a day of great shots, that was a great shot. How’s that for a response? 150. Ian Lubichic, Roger’s coach on the right, Murka, his wife, Sean Lut, who also is uh in many ways his coach. He’s been there uh right from the beginning. Well, that’s what does she play the next shot so quickly. And Roger, although he played great against Berdick, had a few shianks in the first couple of rounds, especially on the forehand side. His last one was off the back end. Just to see his placement on serve today power on average on his first serve. Nishakuri fastest serve last year was 114 mph. He’s under 110 on average which is uh slow by the top 10 standards. The only one under 90 mph in his second as well. So Roger’s going to have some chances and the Shakuri’s got to figure out a way to protect it. And that was one of the ways he did last year. Fifth set against Andy at the US Open. I think he more than any other set seven times. He was set point down against Stanford Brinker in Canada Masters last year and served and volied a couple of times. And he’s certainly trying to find something that will enable him to hang on to his serve more often because the returning game is absolutely world class. It’s proven once again looking only get to his seventh Grand Slam quarterfinal if he win Nishior. I would have expected it would be a bit bit more. It’s 27 already. Roger 15 would win. He would do seventh fold. He would go to his 49th possible quarterfinal. He’s really already very well. Rogers trying to mix it up, but every time he does, he sees a red shirt really close to the ball. 154 That’s a big difference from going from a match against Thomas Berdick with pretty flat shots, one-dimensional, most of the time the same play against someone who can make every angle create every different kind of speed or spin. That was a mark of respect to the quality of the turn already from Nishakori. Federra was selecting a come in behind it. [Applause] He needed to land that one and he did. Yes. [Applause] just long. See how easy he changes direction on even on that serve out wide. He has returned. Short cross, deep cross, quick down the line. He has hit Roger right in the middle. This is good. This is really good finishing. Yes. Bley just couldn’t take any time away from Feder the other night, but he’s on the back foot here in a lot of these rallies. Depth from Nishakori. Exceptional. [Applause] Advantage Feder. [Music] Yes. Seventh unforced error for Federra with a double fault. That compares to Nishikori who’s had seven winners and as of yet has made an unforced error. He just jumps on that one. Ah, there it is. Nish. [Applause] He launches himself to that back end return. He just jumps from his legs. Strength. Look at those thighs. again the pass for three feder have two options. He was hoping to make his way into this match kind of a little bit slow but now he’s forced to go over the top straight away and um he’s just not that accurate yet but um it will come. Great shot. 15. Well, that’s a good sign from Ishakori’s point of view. Apart from the lack of power, as I was talking to on his serve, at times the accuracy just purely because of the motion and his height isn’t that great. [Applause] 13 nose and fire away right now to get these shots in place for the second set. If you miss too many to then the second set will be there just in a couple of minutes. So one way you just don’t want to have too many unforced errors at the same time. You really want to go for it and try to find the perfect spot. 4030. Not a bad attempt at the volley there from Nishakori to be honest. Try to not give his opponent any angles to work with. Nishico. That’s exactly the one he needs to practice. And he had an opportunity. So he used it. He missed it because he’s not spot on yet. Fedra, looks to me that he’s looking a little bit thinner. His legs are not as muscular, but a little bit more lanky. I don’t know how to say thin. Thin love 15 more slender. That though is lucky. That one was pretty 50. Interesting to see how much he’s going to the serve and volley already against Nishakuri. [Applause] 1530 tender force errors. It’s a great serve. I think what he wants to hold here. It’s all about numbers this game. But has he ever been bagled in the set? Probably. But well, let’s hope not. 1430 Patini Kakor’s coach. Yes. Is he from the academy in Florida? The Nick Voliter. Yes, he is. [Applause] Ladies field six love set but according to tennis the website he has lost a couple of six love sets in the Mr. Well, in Shakuri’s mind, that would have changed a few things as well because he will really feel as though this is a golden opportunity to potentially claim his first ever Grand Slam title. Of course, he did get to the final of the US Open. [Applause] 15 back in 2014. Heat. Heat. [Applause] 52. If that handb break just goes off, Federer is still the greatest player to watch. That’s personal opinion. What? You can see he’s loosening up a little. Gets the ball a little cleaner. 1530. Taking the back and return on the rise. Really teeing off on every shot now. He’s so good at that. Shaky. That was not a bad return from Feder been happy with that. And yet he was the one that was taking a big step to just try and stay in the rally. He backs up that serve so incredibly well on a Shakuri. 40 30 G and Michael Cham on the right and Dante will be happy with that down in some of his losses recently since 2015. we were just you were just talking about seemed like a small number that he’s aiming to and we put that in inverted commas his seventh quarter finals lost to here last year he lost to Sun at the French did beat Joe here last year but then lost to the French which he maybe you wouldn’t expect he got he was injured actually at Wland last year when he had to retire against Chilich beat Andy of course at the US [Applause] Second chance to see the slow motion has one challenge remaining. You show already the replay, but look at this. Set it off. it off. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Games 15. [Applause] 150. [Music] L for service. 13 to [Applause] 15. Interesting by it’s good to see as well he’s say got to think his way through his service games at times because he doesn’t just have that raw power. I think he also does this to not give Federer a chance to get in even a better shape now and get his bearing straight here on the center court just to disrupt the play. The ball better as you can see and that’s where the lack of pace really hurts the Shakuri on a serve like that. He just doesn’t time well enough. He doesn’t and isn’t able to get quite the placement. Federation on the right side. Always go out. [Applause] the given to Roger because the umpire feels Pascal feels that um it was a shot that uh the shikori played. Say again at the same time. No. Well, in my opinion, in my judgment, the call did not interfere. [Applause] It’s five to three. It’s a winner to feed. Most of the time when this happens and the play still so close and has a ability to hit the ball, the left will be played. But in this case, I think it’s a good choice by the umpire. The second break federate 1500 is on already right now two breaks off first hurdle he took it up. He’s not out of it. He needs Low 15. [Music] [Applause] [Music] There was a hint of panic in that forehand like he needed to finish the point so quickly. He’s a little nervous now. He feels Roger on. And as I said earlier, there’s only one way for Feder I think to beat Nishikor just to go over the top just to go and try and blow him off the court. Oh wow. Be really disappointed that was Well, he made the shot. So, this has to be a lead if it’s in, doesn’t it? Cuz that ball went back over the net. Did it go in the box? Went in the court. In the court. Yeah. [Music] Yeah. It’s a great correction. I don’t know who’s helped by this because Feder was looking really good in that point. That one bailed Kay out. I think that was razor sharp and it needed to be very quickly up to that short ball. [Applause] A really pretty volley too. Unlucky there. Really unlucky there. Lucky with the return. Unlucky on the second forehead. [Applause] All people think that they should play more to his fore end, but it’s so difficult because once he’s on to be catching balls, he also makes more mistakes of the foreign side. 305. [Applause] 15 shouldn’t have run around it a And if he does not finish off that four, he’s so vulnerable on the next one because Kai will be there and he will use the open court. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] That’s brilliant. What a return up the middle, but exquisite. And that is [Applause] interesting to see where Kai is going to serve where he feels he has a bit of relief where Roger is not going to attack straight away. Well, it’s terrific returning, but it’s the lack of those three points for Nishakuri on his serve that allow Fedra back into this opening set that he looked destined to lose. Five years old. [Applause] [Music] just completely lost it. With the same mark, this match of Federer against Kai would be maybe the most important match for the Australian Open. Being positioned the Grand Slam of Australasia with Feder being the former great coming back. His clothing sponsor has also expanded hugely here in Australia. There is a lot of focus on him down here Tokyo Olympics in 2020 as well. He’s just signed a big deal for that. So yeah, he’s under the spotlight. knows to keep his foot in the pedal. There’s no slowing down now. The heat starts is going to have to keep that going. That’s all they’ve all come to see. And his wife Murka, who has seen it what, 10 million times, still gets a kick out of it. If Ivan and Miraka have this little grin on their face, you know it’s been exquisite. It’s been great. Just the way you finish off the point just like that. That’s too easy for me. Don’t give me that ball. That’s why 40 30 Yeah. Hey. Will this be Federra’s turn at this year’s Australian Open? [Applause] Fair enough for Andy Novak losing to Dennisman didn’t really affect him until potentially got to the championship match. But Andy losing today against Misherv has certainly changed things for the players in the top half of the draw. has changed things for all players in the locker room. Just a thought that players have who have that ranking are capable of beating the number one player in the world in a grand slam. faulted up the times he served, but hold here potentially to love. We’ll see him through to the tie break. consider the unlucky one that you got to meet in the round of 16 against the number 17 seed Roger Fedra. Yeah. Well, Verdict was also pretty unlucky, wasn’t he, to get him that early in the tournament. It’s been a long time since they had such a dangerous outside of the top 16 named Feder. [Music] again. Timely second of the match. We eventually get to a tie break. First half of the set. Much better for Nishauri. in the second half. Extremely successful Feder. But who will take this? This is going to be a shot maker. Going to be one of the highest ever in the game. Roger. [Applause] Difficult to tell right now, but you kind of feel that Roger’s got the momentum. I mean, he was the one that was wayward early on, but that serene that we saw the other evening is [Applause] back. Little delay here. I think the ball’s coming up and wanting it from that particular side. The other poor kid had the balls, but that wasn’t what Nishakori wanted. Little superstition for the Japanese star. One award. [Music] [Applause] [Music] passing miss 21. That’s interesting. He doesn’t have the biggest second serve, but he has more unreturned second serves than both Novak and Andy percentage-wise. You kind of feel like the players just suddenly get it in their heads that they’ve got to take this second serve on and rip it hard and they end up missing more than they perhaps should. Easy to do. Well, you just saw it at the example. Let’s [Applause] for two in a row. How was that? That makes it hurt better. Thought, well, he’s not going to go three times to my backand and he was right. 3-2. [Applause] That’s been the weekend that the Australian Open has come alive, hasn’t it? We had the big shot, the seismic shot with Novak going out. But the last 36 hours have been something else. It’s been non-stop wallto-wall entertainment. That’s a big serve. 183 wide 42. [Applause] has regrouped himself. A couple of good returns. High first serve for seven. [Music] [Applause] [Music] had a 5-1 lead, don’t forget, in the set. So, just the mini break probably won’t be feeling that secure in Nishakori’s mind right now. [Applause] [Applause] Well, in the end, I think the smash was just too hard to hit and he decided to let it go and he was absolutely correct to do So with the back hand down the line was reminiscent of the other day. [Applause] He’s landed it. Everyone a little unsure, but Feder not challenging it and he had the best view in the house. Stunning return. That’s how he started the set. Is he going to finish it in a similar fashion? Well, the responses to adversity from this opening set by both men have been wonderful to watch. It’s not over yet. [Applause] Let it for service. is putting in a lot of first serves as she’s very deep in the pocket every time against the service line. He’s right. Can he put one more there? [Music] Jesse sigh of relief. Nishaw seven games to six. I think that’s the fight within himself. doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody in the rest of the world. [Applause] 15 made the wrong choice, but he more than made up with it with the reflex volley. Just listen to the foot. That courtside sound of caught his foot. It’s not an easy ball to hit that. You’ve seen it obviously in the opening set, but the trajectory is so low as he may lack the power. He may let lack the placement, but he does get some protection cuz the ball comes through at a fairly awkward height for players to [Applause] attack. Roger is trying to do this. 40 game. First game, second. Excuse me. Just sit on, please. Yeah. Can we keep a seat for the moment, please? Thank you very much. Just a bit of a distraction with the uh the ball kids. Not quite sure. [Applause] What happened prior to the start of that game? Hope everyone’s okay. Certainly Roger is after that point. Look at that half volley. That’s it. 40. [Applause] [Music] Let’s first service again. That’s what he rolled out at the start of the match to be four straight first serves and a heart to love. Saw Roger have a practice session of the cup this year in Perth when I was there. 6,000 people came to watch him practice and uh it was a pretty big deal to be fair and it was an awesome occasion and he said he’s a bit tired of practicing without anyone there after you’ve been coming back from the the knee injury of course Nishakori in Tokyo last year had a practice session with 9,000 people coming to watch the largest you ever had coming to watch you practice in my at home there’s usually a squirrel sometimes there’s There’s a rabbit sitting courtside. That’s about it. That’s on a good day. Love 15. [Applause] [Music] serving really tough, but he needs to now end of that first set, beginning of the second. table. That’s how quickly it’s going. 1530. First point he loses on first serve. All [Applause] right. [Applause] There was no hesitation about that shot from Ishikori. Knew exactly what he needed to do. finish it right there. And then look at that aggression. 4030 again couple the loose ones at the end there allowing Mishikori off the hook. Nishi leads however no matter far reaching his fame seems to live as normal a life as you can given his status a guy to be able to focus on a sport while being in his home country I think that would be He will just need permanent security. He will have no private time or hardly any. That’s the downside of being that famous. 3051 GQ. stylish man of the year last year. They ran a sort of competition voting all the way through. Ended up getting down to uh himself and Yakova. No, Tom Hson. Sorry. 145. Too many awards this man hasn’t won to be fair. There’s a huge and how casually he takes the other ball out of his pocket and the way he just hits it to the other side. [Music] Nothing casual about his focus right now though. He knows trails. He trails two sets to love. He knows he has the freshest balls. They’re right after the ball change. First return game. They’re not that fluffy yet from a long rally. [Music] [Applause] [Music] was there to take it on and just pulled out of the shot a little bit. Came up. Didn’t keep it as still as normal. are probing here at the moment trying to find a way through the defenses of Nishakuri. How easy did he make that back overhead smash look? He didn’t have a big square to hit it in. [Applause] [Music] All right, Michael. 40 30 [Applause] [Music] Third ace first of the set for Nishakori and Priceless. Y [Music] [Applause] Having said that, he uh is playing Federra today. So slightly different in terms of some of the caliber of players in that time with all due respect to them. But there’ll be an element of Federra having to press even more if he goes down two sets to have to try and keep the points quicker. Serve some energy as well. 30 to 15. [Applause] Oh, just a little careless thought he necessarily need to hit it that hard. Shakuri was actually slowing up as though he knew that Feder was going to make this one. He didn’t want to chase it down. The differential when Feder has a backhand as his first shot after the serve is quite noticeable when a lot of times already in this contest and Shakuri has found that singleander doesn’t have quite wave of shot doesn’t have as many options. Straight away after the serve [Applause] Yeah, Fer that got a little more awkward and testing than he would have liked had he passed. And we’re coming into the passage of play here that really will be the heart and soul of this match. May well dictate the outcome. [Music] Just another amazing rally amongst the collection of amazing rallies we’ve had today. How good was the Shakuri’s backand in the opening part of that point? That was a sick angle, but it was also a sick angle. But look how he got to it playing squash. Roger a little late off that slice. 50. That had a fair bit of punch behind her that forehand. Tried to play squash again. 1530. [Applause] looking to make his move. [Music] That’s brilliant. Started with a soft slice. It ended with one that just cut into the surface and nothing Mish the Shakuri could do. Oh, just the moment it hits your own record, you have to overcompensate with so much spin. [Music] Two break points. No first serves. Last three points. Oh, okay. 30 40 was desperate to get up on the baseline. You can see here trying to hold his position, but that was the one that kept him quiet. Oh, [Applause] so speed was 185 km an hour. A little bit faster. Roger blocked that return. It wasn’t the best and therefore he was on the run from the beginning. Great change up forehand in just before the winning shot there. The height on the ball. Difficult to step in and take that one when it’s jumping off the surface. Uh, thank you. Only a second double fault. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Net for service. saw and sense this opportunity and the forehand as reliable as ever. [Music] [Applause] [Applause] 15 [Music] [Applause] quickly back at the next point. Guy smart slowing things down. This is the way that no matter what happens in his career, no matter how hard Nishakori works, he’s not going to be able to get this sort of rapid service game. often enough. It was a very good game. Five games. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] 50. Let’s for service. because everything else I feel measures up against mindset that Michael’s brought in as well and talked about that a couple of years ago before Michael actually got involved. They were at an exhibition together. He said, “It’s one thing to admire these top players, but you give them a little too much respect.” It’s also within Japanese culture. I think eventually we’ll have to overcome that in top sports. There’s room for respect. Eventually going to have to go out and beat them. There’s another 40 route that he has to take to get past these people, which is perhaps why he’s only today bidding for his seventh quarter final at a major. He’s got a good touch to back up the piercing ground strokes for five games to go just inside. You know big str until the French last year was that he has been playing so much tennis and hardly ever was injured. 65 consecutive grand slams he played consecutive talking 16 years there 16 years not missing the experience to come back in a match like this where you’re down 5-1 still lose the set you create yourself an opportunity to win the second That’s about oxymored aggression. It’s been a little too much for Nishakori in this second set. trying to thread one and seven up the line. Well played by the majority of this crowd to be fair. [Music] Oh, [Applause] 15 off. Extraordinary defensive skills there from Feder to keep the ball in play. Shakuri was all over him. [Applause] 3015. [Applause] 40 15. You wouldn’t expect that, would you? If you up 30 love and then he gets a return on his toes and then plays seven volley again next point after. first game. He’s never lost a five set match here. So, that’s one thing he’ll be bearing in mind. And he’s also got the best record career-wise in decisive sets as well in the Shakuri. Got to get there first though. 15 problematic. [Applause] [Applause] [Music] Search it off. 40. [Applause] There’s just too much still body weight going to the left. 40 50 tend to pull that shot. 143. [Applause] had some speed at last forehead. One give [Music] But you’re already changing record. [Music] [Applause] New balls are [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] coming also going to the bank to get a new racket out. [Music] 7 9 makes a total of 25 [Music] games. Join a fairly elite group of players that have managed to win a major under 6 ft tall. That’s not easy to do when uh if you don’t have that first serve to bail you out of the many crisis situations. You will find yourself making your way through a major draw. taking advantage of that shank return of course in 2004 at the French Open. Thomas Johansson, Thomas Muster as well, the five that have managed to uh claim one of the games elite trophies. That’s the power of play he’s going to enjoy. Fore forehead. Seems like he’s had a little bit of the last couple that he’s hit. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] What is there to do against Rebels like this? Not much love. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] warning. That’s quite tough what Kamaria is doing there. Three break points down and giving him a time warning. 154. [Applause] He must have checked at least a couple of times before he does something like that. I like to think he gave him a soft warning. Whoa. knew it a little hesitant there. He pulled off the shot. 304 Should float one in again or will he try and protect it with something with a bit more pace behind it? There you go. He’s a few miles off that at the moment. Getting pushed back. [Applause] 15. [Music] 150. He hates that. Not just he loses the point, but it breaks up his flow and he doesn’t want to give this little bit of hope to his opponent. He’s not 15 though, is he? Well, he gives and he takes. That was amazing. that he does it twice now. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Rogers just putting himself in trouble. Was a great return here from Nishikor. He told himself stay down, stay with the ball, which he did. Now he’s at a break point against Roger. Two double faults for a miss. hasn’t lost a point out wide on the backhand side when he went out wide to Nishakori’s back end. He decided to go down the tea. Ridiculous. It’s those type of memories that fans take away that have made him who he is. salvages an unsalvageable situation it appeared after the return here. was nice. He was being a gentleman. It’s right now it’s better who controls and Iori who follows. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Come on. Well done. He has to slowly start taking things in control just like he did in the first set. Obviously Feder was not in his best shape yet, but I found Nishikori was a bit more aggressive also on the baseline just like now taking returns on the rise. [Applause] letting go of that. That definitely is in in the culture. We saw this week Yonx inserting a clause into their contract saying if anyone breaks one of their record an substantial amount of the contract. He continues that 100% points one out wide on the outside when he nails that first serve. Feder leads three games to one. Shakuri hasn’t found a way to defend against it. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] 15. Come on. How does he stay on the attack from there? If you can hit a half volley falling backwards with top spin, short cross. That’s how you can do it. But nobody can except this man. [Applause] 153. and he decelerated but there was a touch of deflation in it as well having started the match so well things slipping away from Nishakori now’s better apparently stronger [Music] [Applause] game fair natural style of a serving volley for him to one double break feder It’s right there. There’s I mean the pace is different. I mean he’s averages 20 km quicker off his serve but that placing to the line is also something that is so difficult for a Shakuri to contain. It’s also very difficult for Nishikori to replicate when he’s got the balls in his hand. Guy’s right now frustrated and angry. He’s not doesn’t have any belief anymore in his in his third set. Roger is like his I think former countryman Bill Hel. You know him who was shooting the apple on top of the head. He can do that with the tennis ball. especially farted off. Well, he’s running away with this. That was one of the great things that he let people know, wasn’t it, when he won his first woman back in 2003. He mops up with another which is the Swiss America’s Cup that went on had just won it prior to his WAN and he was telling himself as we were playing Philip who’s just sail away. He said it was the most remarkable thing for a landlock country to have won that particular competition. Islam life is pretty broad and certainly has kept his youthful nature. I don’t know if you saw the clip yesterday or the other day with him and Gregor and Tommy H singing singing terrible awful this one just makes beautiful [Music] with David Foster on Yeah. No, [Applause] Kai is going to have to turn it around. Where is he going to find the energy and accurate as they say so nicely in French to start off in the fourth? I don’t believe you can let games go like that against Roger. This is just all over the place now. And in this service game, he’s giving Roger a chance to start in the fourth, [Music] but it’s a big problem. He’s 0 for six on second serve points in this set. He’s nine for 28. He doesn’t have bounce. He doesn’t really have a great slice. It just comes into Roger at the perfect height and pace. [Applause] [Music] 1540 said it should. He’s got an awful lot of soul. solve. [Applause] 15 [Music] If he wants to start federate has to be be in the beginning of this four set I think. 1530. [Music] He’s reinvigorated, isn’t he? Nishakuri at the start of the fourth. Exactly the kind of reaction you want to see for a shot like that. That is disheartening. He’s got to be disheartening as well in he doesn’t really have that response. It’s this moment again where see where the serve is going. That ball toss is just the same every time again. It can go ankles wide down the tea and he has the tea. I’m telling you. It’s amazing how little impact actually he’s made backand to backhand tonight. 15. Well, Roger is moving the point around so he can’t get there. And as soon as that starts to happen, Roger will play a smart shot to avoid and redirect it or cut the point short by just going for it. I would normally really a little bit more direct into Roger’s foreign as well. I would say very few people I think can do it. 30. Well, now he did show his record. That’s That is very tough. I haven’t seen it very often, but very understandable. He wants this badly. He has to be careful, especially after the double bounce. He had a warning already for 15 record and you had a time warning that is point penalty or not or not with a time warning. I don’t think with the time warning. [Music] That’s the difference. 1530 in the last game. Feder ace ace and an unturnable Brilliant. What a shot from Nishakuri. Could be a game saver. Could be a match changer. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Roger felt he didn’t do much wrong there. Guys playing better from the base like like he did in the first set. Little higher intensity, a bit more speed. He’s mixing up his foreign in his back end going wider down the line again. That must make those two fellas a little happier. So hit his way out of trouble. Couldn’t serve his way out one more. [Applause] Something to build on. A little platform perhaps for another assault on the federal serve. [Applause] 15. [Applause] Touch it off. Come on. I just like the way he hits this shot. He moves forward while he hits it. 305. Just overdid it a little. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Eventually he went through him trying to go around him but the direct route worked. Perhaps Dante feeling the inferno reigniting inside Nishakuri after a point like that. [Applause] 14 30 [Applause] That’s gorgeous. Elegant stroke making from both sides of the court, not just one. Fo needs two games to $50. [Applause] [Music] 150 playing better from the baseline again. He’s actually forced Roger to do more on the returns. [Music] [Applause] 1530 was pulling his head down on the surf that second surf sometimes sense he might feel the need to get in position even quicker because the ball’s coming back so fast. That could be one thing or he tries to put some more some more spin on it. What a tough one this was. What you thought he had won it? The ball just dropped before the baseline. [Music] [Applause] 4032 Of course, he’s made it in between the net post and the umpire chair. So glad the ball kick. Can’t mistake where he was. Watch this. where it goes right through. He was trying to take a little peek at the ball. K. You saw that and then he moved back on time. Uh, Dennis Nishikov, [Music] [Applause] Yes. [Applause] [Music] Well, everybody who plays tennis and who tries to hit a one-handed back and down the line off the serve like that knows how difficult it is, but he makes it look super easy. I finished How are you? Oh my goodness. Come on, Kate. You have to cover your cord. How can you? Yes. And it goes from that diagonate. Look where he was. And then you have to go over there inside the court. Not only fast also quick. Tell you what though, it’s a character building game right now as well. And uh the word grind is the wrong word because he’s having to excel here to stay in it. But if he can get through it, you just never know. He is getting outplayed. And that’s acceptable. But at least in this set, he’s not getting out for it at the moment. Yes. Kai is working hard to stay in there. And you have to give him credit for doing so cuz every shot which is not good enough, it’s gone. And some that are good enough are gone. Even true. Last hour he’s going to have to pay him 50 bucks for a tennis lesson. But he’s hanging in there and I really like it. It’s a character building match. If you want to get beyond, you know, possible seven quarterfinal matches in Grand Slam, these are the ones you have to win. He’s trying to think as well. He changed his position on the line to give himself more angle. Another lacerates his defense. [Applause] I didn’t do [Applause] enough. The pressure that’s been building [Music] [Applause] terrific from Nishakori. Couldn’t have wished it a better serve and yet still had to come up with something magical. That’s just a safe break point. Oh, but it’s not good enough anymore, is it? Come on, Roger. Try to avoid situations where someone hits a clean winner. You feel like if that happens over and over and over and over again, but there’s nothing Kai can do. He’s hitting decent shot. Thank you. Ro just creates the opening and it’s another winner. That was terrific. You can only applaud him for his willingness to take that on. Roger not going with the backand down the line. somewhat surprisingly all of a sudden has chipped to return. [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] game. few tweets. What a way to win a mini battle and a big battle within the greater battle that’s ensuing out here on the Rod Lab Arena. And just who knows that may well be one of those turning points. It’s tough for Roger now to stay out there after a return game of 10 minutes to come back and to play another magnificent service game. That’s for sure. [Applause] So a mini window of opportunity perhaps here for Nishakuri. New balls will speed it up even more. [Applause] Some of optimism there wasn’t there after that last game. These first couple of points in the Shakuri eager good vision. Excellent. Fish it off. That is not an easy shot as well. Sometimes it’s difficult when you have new balls to feel the second serve. First serve usually not that bad, but second serve. I think he’s going to challenge that one. out because I thought it was wide but it was called out by the lineman and then Fed was asking for Hawkeye to make a decision. Yeah, it was white. [Applause] 153 on the left side. Ball was going [Applause] in. Second ser. He’s had a big impact. 154 two points there on the Shakuri. Well, it was called out the first one, not the second one. So, it’s just a new ball. Roger is overplaying. What a turn around. That’s one of the aspects you love about tennis. Rewarded for hanging in [Applause] there. Nice for Roger Feder sets two three and at the start of the fourth as well. But a definite sea change now as Nishakori has the break. Search it off. [Music] F it off. [Applause] [Applause] 40-15. [Music] [Applause] leads for since new balls came in play. Roger has not been clean. You can hear it every time he hits even on [Music] surf on the volleys also on the baseline shots. [Music] It will be a very quick series. His challenge will be in the next series of Nishikori. [Music] Match it up. [Applause] Spot on your analysis. This is going to be a quick game [Applause] again running out in this set for him. Couple more chances to break Nishakuri. [Music] [Applause] 50. Help. 150. [Applause] Come [Music] on. Go. just a little more conservative right now allowing Nishakuri a fraction of a second longer on the ball and he can be pretty damaging and that was a little concerned look over to his box for the first time in a while from Federra That’s your [Applause] Oh, now he went for a hit. Just holding back a little. 14. When you do that, you really have to unleash. You have to let your record go and swing right through it. Come on. Wow. And going give him some relief. He’s still feeling his three. You mentioned already he was stretching it. Now he was just kind of rubbing it a little bit. What can you expect if that’s already a weak spot if you have to run so much, retrieve so many balls from so many different angles? A little worried. Fair enough. The worry probably recedes a little bit when you see shots like that. That’s just a minute and a half to two minutes. Probably even less. Roger played a little less. A few bad choices. Little loose. He’s trading for it off. [Music] [Applause] Usually one of the best rounds to watch. Round of 16. Let’s see what Kite does here. Can he close it out? Those are the shots he wasn’t missing. Start of the fourth. A reprieve for Nishakori early on. Terrific serve. [Applause] [Music] Go. Well, it’s been great to watch two men who have more money than they can ever spend. Fight for something that money just simply can’t buy. It’s priceless to them. A potential championship here in Australia. They’ve got to get past each other somehow. And for all intents and purposes, it looks as though it’s going to take a fifth set. And again it will go six. No tie break in this fifth set. 15 off. [Applause] The hip injury doesn’t look as though it’s too bad. Triming there from the physio. [Applause] Oh, he’s got it. Oh, he’s got it. Just played it a little too carefully. He didn’t think Nishapori was going to go for it. 153. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] left his run late. Nishakuri stole the point away. Oh boy, that was big. And he rubbed it in another time, didn’t he? by his come on. Oh, Roger knew he would getting away with this volley drive. The moment he hit it was actually below the tape, so he had to lift it over first. Hasn’t used that serve too often. 14 one into the body and a bit of a body blow here for Nishakori. potentially a bright start. I hope you is still there. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Uh hello. [Applause] safely navigated in the end his opening service game in this set. First he’s won his last three in a row as well but on Garas last year US Open of course beating Murray 75 in the final set there and already won this year against Kaznets. Pitch it over. just I was just about to say as well the plus one as you would call it you serve you the first ball after on his own serve it’s been much more aggressive again throughout the fourth that he needs to because Ro is going to really going to go for it. If he has a chance to hit it, he will. Such a good return. That was a defensive block, but it ended up putting him on the attack because Nishikuri was in no man’s land and he had to try and make something happen and he couldn’t. Early opportunity then on Nishikuri serve for Federra. It wasn’t the pace to beat Feder. Maybe just the moment 140 km out wide and he missed it. Actually, he knew it was coming cuz he was standing there. Look at what it means to him. The 17 time Grand Slam champion. And that reaction looked like a man looking for his maiden title in Australia. The virtues of making your opponent play one more ball especially on a big point. The pressure getting to Nishakuri. is throwing in his whole body. He’s 35. He still moves like one who’s 23 51. That’s why you got to love this guy. You know, he plays here like it means the world to him, which it does. You know that you can have so much heart for the game, you forget about everything else in your life. This is what matters. You really have to find this the most important thing in your life at this moment. Otherwise, you can’t withhold the pressure and the competition against a guy like Kai. You have to be that intense. [Applause] [Music] [Music] It’s big numbers for Nishakuri when he directs his attack off the second serve into that backhand side. He’s won 70% of the points when he’s either found it or hit a clean winner like that. Just can’t get there often enough. 4 to 15. Put a diamond anywhere in the service box and he will hit it now. Well, it was a second serve, but to be fair, it was hit like a serve and there was no element of doubt attached to it. Big round of applause here, a man from Japan. Hey Nishico on the left baseline. Ball was gone out. [Applause] Love 15. Didn’t have a huge amount of confidence, did he? You could tell when he challenged, but maybe just wanted to buy himself even extra time to compose himself. He wouldn’t be the first player to use Hawkeye for that exact reason. Things are not going long. Just a tape. Well, mate, if you want to win this tournament, you better win the next two points. will get crazy. How good was that, Yako? Come on. That’s one of the best logs ever. And Chang had a pretty decent one as well. But he didn’t put this fully drive away. And then almost like a Cricket stroke. I want to go to love 40 there. There’s going to be triple break point. You could say triple match point. [Applause] [Music] Yeah. was just his way through. He’s going absolutely full speed. No mercy whatsoever for the Japanese warrior. 34 [Applause] That’s a great ser to the All right. Yes. [Music] [Applause] [Music] That one wasn’t good enough. He’s got away with a couple at that pace out wide, but Federra in this kind of form was just savage with that return. Shakuri’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals were hanging by the width of the net cord there. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] It’s a fragile involvement he has in this match currently. You could have said that in the fourth as well and he turned that around. [Applause] Maybe this is the way it needs to be from Nishikori. Just has to struggle to hold on. to have another such a long game. But Roger has to stay out and surf after 10 minutes. Just checking how many challenges he’s got left. He didn’t need to use one of his two that he had remaining in his corner in the huge one. [Applause] [Music] 3 15 [Applause] off there over the corner of the side that K wasn’t going took off a little bit just to make sure he wasn’t going to miss it. Terrific one-hander from Nishakori just guiding into an awkward place. But it is he that is in the awkward place right now trying to figure out a way to break. Had no idea where that was going. Len to his left, beaten to his right. 15. [Applause] against a lot of players. That would have been a fairly safe shot that Nishakuri hit. Not against Feder [Applause] game. It’s been an enthralling contest. Another one handed back and down the line. But you saw that one coming already for a long time. He was already on his way before the drop played. Sometimes I don’t understand why he wants to hit it with top swing crosscourt. Why not just a slice chip down the line? Get a good net position. It’s already four or five times you try to solve it that way. Come on. Transform the ball into a sandbag. It didn’t bounce. 59. Maybe from this position you can see what the ball did after that drop shot. It did only go. Look how it bounced. It was probably 35 in of curve to the side, too. 153 [Applause] pumping his last energy in his body. Just few little hops. Oh yeah. [Applause] So feder still moving in. There’s no way he thought he was going to be that quick. Look at this. Awesome. One point before 1530. Roger hit probably I would say three. Unbelievable shots before that drop shot and it just wasn’t good enough. He was pushing so hard he had to go 1540. Didn’t make it. [Music] Come on. Oh yes, that is magnificent. Some miraculous retrieving from Nishakori. How about a half volley fore end there down the line. He’s coming up right here. He was one before already. Sorry. He’s invented shots, hasn’t he? In the same way that Shakespeare invented words. that you can only admire respect Shakuri’s willingness to keep trying something to find a way Yeah, richly deserved his success in that game. Lesser players would have collapsed. and made Federra’s passage through to the quarterfinals that bit easier. [Applause] He’s had a modicum of success on Feder sword in this final. Said he’s won five points, but he needs to win at least four in one game. There’s one personal. That’s why Feder is pushing so hard. 15 4-1 1530. He didn’t make that one point cuz he afraid he’s afraid of this. It might just happen. Not when you keep serving like that, but he has to 15. 20 the points easier on the outside than on juice. [Music] 30 to 15. Just those little nuances in this match. That gandal has caught Mishakori a couple of times a little flat footed. Rarely is this man predictable apart from his ability to attain perfection. [Music] 145. One more game for Feder. Potentially one last chance for Nishikori to break. Fero leads five games to two. Perhaps leave the game without another major which he so desperately seeks. But his way has proved the right way throughout the course of his career. And a 49th quarterfinal of a major beckons. That was so soft. Would you have thought it was going to go wide, but then such a little pace on it. You think both players just already accepted the fact that to serve for it or not? I don’t think you can do that with Nishikori’s returns. No, but it seems just it’s just going to be the case. 13 to 15. [Applause] [Music] wants to make quick work of this game. Hitting and coming in for the second serve return. Just running around his back end. If it goes well, thank you. If not, he’s leaning on his surf. He is really leaning on it. The surf rate at 53. This is it. Feder it’s a five game to three. [Applause] This is a chance. First point is so crucial, especially if you get a second ser within your range. Every game on average, two points on return serves. Another success down the tea on this side of one over. Kay will try and sit there. any sit up. That’s the problem, isn’t it? And again, the willingness just to do what’s right. Perch it [Applause] off and not just do what’s right. Hit the spots at the right time. Fed on the right side was out. Yeah, why not? He doesn’t like doing it. But you know if it is in you fall in love, we got three match [Applause] points. And that’s why he challenged. That’s why he challenged cuz he felt the moment it came off his strings. It just felt good to him. and a graphic that illustrates perfection. It shows us just how much this means to [Applause] him. Another Australian [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause]

Watch the full match of Roger Federer v Kei Nishikori in the fourth round of the Australian Open 2017.

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