Andy Murray vs. Kei Nishikori – Semi-final preview: Shanghai Rolex Masters 2011
Only four men are left in the race to glory at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, as the semi-final round begins on Saturday evening. World number four, Andy Murray of the Great Britain, will play against the unseeded Japanese, Kei Nishikori, in the second semi-final
clash on Saturday.
The much awaited contest will be played on the outdoor hard courts of the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, China, with the winner of the match getting a title shot in the final of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Master series 1000
event.
Murray’s sublime form continued in Shanghai as well, winning both of his matches with authority to reach the final four. Being the second seed in the tournament, the Briton received a bye to play directly in the second round but his opponent withdrew from
the contest due to injury to let him in the third round without playing a match. He outplayed the world number 19, Stanislas Wawrinka and then annihilated the Australian qualifier, Matthew Ebden, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarter-finals to book a date with Nishikori
in the semis.
The Britain’s number one is having a magnificent form and had already bagged four championship titles this year so far. Murray is running a 53-11 winning record in the current ATP season and came to Shanghai as the hot favourite for winning the title. Murray
was fresh from a championship victory against the world number two, Rafael Nadal of Spain, at the Rokuten Japan Open last Sunday and after Nadal’s dismissal from the Shanghai Masters, the Briton is considered to be the strongest contender for the gold.
“I feel like I can play better. I served well so far. But I think I can hit the ball a bit better from the back of the court. And, like I said a few days ago, it’s different conditions to the last couple of weeks. Maybe still adjusting a bit,” told the second
seeded Briton after defeating Ebden and confirming his place in the semi-finals.
On the other hand, world number 47, Nishikori, is having his best tournament run so far at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. The 21-year-old Japanese played some exceptional tennis in the early rounds of the tournament to make a berth in the final four of the
Masters Series event. He got under the lime light when he outplayed the world number eight, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, in the second round to stun everyone. Nishikori then went on to outplay Santiago Giraldo and then the world number 18, Alexandr Dolgopolov
of Ukraine in the quarter-final round to meet Murray in the semis.
Nishikori has already defeated two Top-20 players in the tournament and must be very confident for his clash against Murray. The Briton is certainly the hot favourite for the contest but it is also anticipated that the Japanese won’t let go that easily and
will drag the matchup into the third set before dropping it. It is the first time that Nishikori is playing a Master Series-level semi-final and it will a task of sorts to handle the huge match pressure playing against the world number four.
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