2016 Brisbane International: Nishikori vs Tomic QF preview

Kei Nishikori and Bernard Tomic will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers on Friday’s schedule. Both players will be gunning for a place in the final four of the 2016 Brisbane International. Nishikori leads their head-to-head record 2-0.

Nishikori, the number two seed, got a first-round bye and held off Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday, his fourth consecutive win against the Kazakhstani player. The upcoming quarterfinal clash against Tomic will be a repeat of last year’s quarterfinals where Nishikori won 6-0 6-4. Prior their 2015 meeting, the duo’s previous encounter came at the 2012 London Olympics where Nishikori also won 7-6(4) 7-6(4).

The Japanese also advanced to the semifinals of the men’s doubles event. Teaming up with Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, they knocked out 2014 US Open champions and top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 4-6 6-1 10-7. Dimitrov also booked his spot in the last eight with three-sets win over Serbia’s Viktor Troicki 5-7 7-6(6) 6-2 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, seventh seed Tomic is looking very motivated to continue his ranking surge this season. The 23-year-old Aussie ended 2015 ranked as World No. 18, his career-best so far. Tomic clinched his place in the last eight by beating Nicolas Mahut 6-4 6-3 in the first round. Then, he survived tough contest against Radek Stepanek 7-6(8) 4-6 7-6(7) in the second round.

Nishikori and Tomic look evidently in top shape cruising past their early round matches. It will be exciting to find out who will prevail - Tomic has been playing fairly well at home turf, but Nishikori also presents aggressive gameplay from the back of the court to could give trouble to the Australian.

Milos Raonic, the 2015 Brisbane finalist, looms as a potential semifinal opponent for Nishikori or Tomic. Raonic beat qualifier Ivan Dodig 6-7(2) 6-1 6-4 in the second round. The Canadian will play unseeded Lucas Pouille to secure a semifinal berth in Brisbane.