Unlike Kei Nishikori, Andy Murray has not forgotten their US Open quarter-final and is looking to make amends for one that got away.
The world No 1 was the favourite to claim the title in New York last summer after winning Wimbledon and Olympic gold, but came unstuck on a dramatic evening.
He won the first set against Nishikori 6-1, led by two sets to one and looked poised to go a break up in the fourth when play was interrupted by a loud noise from the PA system.
Murray lost his cool, then fought back from 2-4 down in the decider to lead 5-4, but lost the last three games.
Remarkably, Nishikori was unable to recall the match at all when asked about it on Monday despite the win being one of the biggest of his career.
“Actually I’m very bad with the memories,” the eighth seed said with a sheepish grin. “I don’t even know if I won or lost.
“I won?”
Murray has an encyclopaedic knowledge of his previous matches, so there was no chance of him having a similar memory lapse.
“Obviously we played at the US Open and that was five sets, a match that got away from me a little bit, so I need to learn a bit from that,” he told Eurosport.
“There’s a good chance it’s a long one. He returns well and he’s very solid off both wings.
“He’s always a tough guy to play against.”
Murray has played himself into form from unpromising beginnings and played his best match of the fortnight so far in beating Karen Khachanov in the fourth round.
“I’m happy with where my game’s at,” the Scot said. “Everything is going pretty well just now. I’m feeling good going into the middle part of the second week.”
Murray has impressed former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, who expects him to see off Nishikori.
“He didn’t start the year like he wanted, and he started to be a little not confident. But he found himself in the right moment,” said the Croatian, who is playing in the legends event at Roland Garros. “What better way to find yourself than at the French Open, when you’re top seeded? Last year finalist, he wants to win.
“He played very well [against Khachanov] and he’s playing better and better. Now a lot of things are possible.
“Andy knows what he has to do. I don’t see Nishikori beating Andy. Nishikori doesn’t have the mental side. He’s going to crack, Andy is too good ... it’s not only hitting the balls.”
To win the title and complete the third leg of a career grand slam, Murray is very likely to have to get past nine-time champion Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard has been in ominous form so far and stopping him will take some doing.
Asked how it could be done, Ivanisevic said: “Maybe put two guys there?
“Rafa is looking great. He’s very confident, but you can have one bad day and now you’re not allowed to have any more bad days because the opponents are so strong. But Rafa knows that so, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Although Nishikori cannot remember their New York tussle, he needs no reminding how tough an opponent Murray can be. The latter has won eight of their 10 previous meetings, most recently at the ATP World Tour Finals last November.
“We have been playing so many times,” he said. “He’s great player. A very smart tennis player. It’s never easy, and I think this week he’s been playing well. I’ve been watching some matches. He’s hitting great balls. So I’m sure it’s going to be a tough one, but I’ll try to enjoy and try to win the match.”
Nishikori is not having the best season and has been made to work very hard so far in Paris.
He was taken to five sets by young South Korean Chung Hyeon in Round 3 and then lost the opener 6-0 against Fernando Verdasco on Monday.
That was his third day playing in a row after the Chung match was affected by rain and, as ever with Nishikori, the key question surrounds his fitness.
“I’m a little bit sore. Playing three days in a row. I’ll try to be physically ready for a long, tough match.”
* Press Association
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