Novak Djokovic vs. Kei Nishikori: Score, Reaction from 2016 Italian Open

For the second time in as many weeks, Novak Djokovic defeated Kei Nishikori in a clay-court semifinal. Seven days removed from a straight-set victory over the Japanese star at the Madrid Open, Djokovic went the distance and captured a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over the world’s sixth-ranked player at the Italian Open in Rome. 

Djokovic has now won eight straight matches against Nishirkori dating back to the 2014 Paris Masters and will meet Andy Murray—who defeated Lucas Pouille, 6-2, 6-1 in Saturday’s other semifinal—for the championship on Sunday. 

Djokovic opened the proceedings with a mundane first-game win on serve, but things took a sour turn when he was forced to the bench for a medical timeout, according to the New York Times’ Ben Rothenberg: 

Djokovic a bit of a shambles to start this match, bruising left ankle after accidentally whacking it with his racket. Strugglebunny moment.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 14, 2016

Nishikori immediately pounced and sent Djokovic scrambling across the baseline and up to the nets as he held to tie things at 1-1 in the first set before breaking Djokovic on the Serb’s second service game.  

Not only did the world No. 1 display some lazy shotmaking tendencies, as he repeatedly tried to limit movement by attempting slices from behind the baseline, but Nishikori peppered forehands and backhands to the corners, as ESPN’s Brad Gilbert observed: 

Special K is striking such a clean ball off both sides, amazing how much power he hits on every neutral ball for his size

— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) May 14, 2016

Nishikori calmly closed out the first set on serve, and Rothenberg noted that Djokovic didn’t appear to be 100 percent focused on the action occurring between the lines:  

First set to Kei Nishikori, 6-2 over Novak Djokovic. Since that self-inflicted injury in opening game, Djokovic seems rattled, unfocused.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 14, 2016

Tennis TV on Twitter provided a statistical overview of Nishikori’s opening statement:  

Well well! First set @keinishikori, and extra break means he opens second on service #ibi16 https://t.co/kRsZ9udpkC …

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