Australian Open 2014: Rafael Nadal vs Kei Nishikori - As it happened

Round of 16: Rafael Nadal def. Kei Nishikori 7-6 (3) 7-5 7-6(3)

Oh this was a tough one! Blisters, coaching violation, shoe lace broken, and time violation. None of these were as much a deterrent as Nishikori’s punishing strokes.

Just the test Nadal needed as he got into the business end of the Australian Open.

While everyone expected a straight sets victory for Nadal, no one quite expected the kind of challenge Nishikori put up today.

Nadal was off to a quick start, breaking Nishikori in the opening game. Nishikori seemed nervous, but he regrouped, and a spate of errors from Nadal gave him the break back. After being pushed on serve at 3-2, Nadal failed to convert three break points in the next game. Nishikori played aggressive and with purpose, while the errors continued from Nadal. His deep balls troubled Nadal in particular.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his fourth round match against Kei Nishikori of Japan during day eight of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The set went into a tie break, and this was where Nadal stamped his authority. Clinical serves and a wonderful backhand slice return took him to 2 set points. He needed only one.

The second set followed a similar tight pattern with both players holding serve at the start. Nadal was landing the balls deep initially, but over time he was landing them well inside the court, and this gave Nishikori the opportunity to step up and smack forehands.

At 2-2, with Nadal serving, he missed an easy forehand volley and Nishikori got his second break of the match. Nadal tried his best to come back into the match and he got the opportunity at 4-3, when a brilliant  backhand pass put the pressure on Nishikori and ultimately conceded the break.

Nadal had a bit of a tumble soon after, and play was interrupted as he replaced his shoe. That seemed to be a good omen for Nadal, as he won the game to take a 5-4 lead and started dominating the long rallies again. Still, some strong play and luck from the net cord kept Nishikori in the set.

Nadal was determined not to take this into a tie break, and he broke Nishikori again with a brilliant forehand pass to take the second.

This followed another break of play, and it was revealed Nadal’s blisters had burst and he was bleeding on his palm. No wonder he was missing so many forehands.

Nadal started the third set strong, and never looked like conceding, even after having to defend break points. He soon got a break himself to lead 3-1. But after being pushed to 15-40 for the third time in the set, he couldn’t prevent conceding the break, by virtue of a double fault. Nishikori combined his serve with some effective drop shots and soon the set was back on serve.

At deuce, 4-4, Nadal got his second time violation (he’d also got a violation for coaching), and Nishikori took advantage of the second serve and smacked the ball in. He played his shots fearlessly, and got the break to lead 5-4.

But, there was a further twist to the tale. Nishikori didn’t get hold of his nerves and he missed a routine forehand and that was all Nadal needed, as he got the break back immediately.

Nishikori put away the disappointment and continued to test Nadal, right till the last point. The set went to a tie break again and after few more tense rallies, Nadal came through the victor.

Nadal finished the match with 12 aces and having put 71% of first serves in. Where he faltered was in unforced errors – 28 of them in all. Credit to Nishikori for pushing him, but Nadal should improve on that stat when he faces his next opponent, Grigor Dimitrov.