Considering that the game between Nishikori and Ferrer had just ended, it was understandable that Nishikori didn't arrive at the center court until the end of the game.
But unfortunately, Nishikori Kei also missed the highlight of this game.
It can be seen that after losing to Djokovic in the US Open and Imperial Capital, Murray also re-examined his game and made adjustments.
The key is that these two players have been practicing and playing together since they were teenagers. They know each other too well and their overall styles are too close. Even if they change, it is difficult to completely subvert them. Calculation and counter-calculation, change and counter-change are what they are. There was a running theme throughout the game.
Therefore, the first set was definitely a bayonet and a brilliant match, with breaks and counter-breaks, suppression and counter-suppression always intertwined and colliding.
Both sides created opportunities, but both missed them. Some of the goals were magic goals that made the whole audience scream, and some were ridiculous mistakes——
Judging from one ball alone, this is a mistake, and there is no doubt that it is a mistake; but professional players can know that some mistakes are a change in the atmosphere of the game.
It is precisely because of the anxiety and intensity of the confrontation between the two sides that the nerves in the brain continue to remain tense, and the layers of huge pressure are enough to be suffocating, so that some simple shots may also cause simple mistakes, or they may become more urgent to form. Low-level errors occurred as a result of suppression.
At certain moments in certain games, mistakes can also be seen as a profile of a stalemate game.
The most incredible thing is that both players had set points, but both players also missed them, and the fight continued until a "5:5" draw.
Just when everyone thought the first set would go into a tie-break, Djokovic grabbed the fourth set point at the end of the set:
"7:5".
By breaking serve, he won the first set.
The first set alone lasted seventy-one minutes, almost as long as the entire match between Gauvin and Anderson, and the air in the entire center court was on fire.
There is no doubt that this should be one of the best games in this year's Paris Masters.
Moreover, Murray showed his continued recovery.
It can be seen from the break point data that Murray got two break points and successfully broke once; Djokovic got nine break points and successfully broke twice.
The number of break points shows that in terms of overall strength, Djokovic has the upper hand. Murray sent a lot of break points, but he still has not restored his 100% level.
The success rate of redeeming break points shows that Murray and Djokovic are indeed comparable in terms of key score performance. Murray's instant burst of energy can already show some of the elegance of his peak period, whether it is to redeem break points. This is true even when it comes to saving break points.
However, the second set was disappointing.
Murray collapsed.
There are many reasons:
On the one hand, it can be seen that he did not fully recover. He could only maintain his peak state for one set, and then he could no longer sustain it. His overall performance level dropped very obviously in the second set.
On the other hand, full attendance in the Asian season and the European indoor season is already intense in terms of physical and mental consumption. Top-level competitions also require countless energy consumption, which is a double test both physically and mentally.
Therefore, entering the second set, it was obvious that I could not keep up.
"6:2".
Djokovic broke serve twice and quickly opened up the score without giving up any break points, easily winning the game.
The first set and the second set were completely different things. Murray's performance was completely different. There is still a long way to go to recover after returning from injury.
If Kei Nishikori wants to examine Djokovic's condition, then the second set has no reference value.
Despite this, Murray still maintains his lead and secures a seat in London by virtue of his performance in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters.
So far, all the semi-finalists of the Paris Masters have been announced.
The first half, "Djokovic VS Kei Nishikori".
The second half, "Raonic VS Gao Wen".
Such a duel is a bit interesting.
Looking back on the entire 2014 season, Raonic and Gao Wen are undoubtedly the representatives of the two young storms——
Raonic is the leader of the "post-90s generation". He is the first to break into the top ten in the world, the second to break into the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, and the first to reach the year-end finals stage. Everything can be seen. The young player's strong emergence has undoubtedly carried the banner of the new generation.
Gawain is slightly different. If Raonic stepped onto the stage step by step, then Gawain was born out of nowhere, a US Open championship trophy, breaking so much history, creating so many miracles, and spreading word of mouth, precisely because His feat added another touch of magic to this turbulent season.
Among the players born in the 1990s, Janowitz, Dimitrov, Thiem, etc. are all worthy of attention, but Raonic and Gao Wen both stand out and become a hot topic. The former They have been famous for a long time, and the latter is shocking. So, who is the leading figure at the moment?
It is worth mentioning that among this group of young players, they have not played against each other many times, and they have not met as frequently as the Big Four.
This also means that young players have not yet fully emerged, and the opportunities to meet in major events are still too few. As they grow in an all-round way, the number of encounters should gradually increase.
So far, Raonic has only played against Dimitrov, winning one and losing two, including a four-set loss at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Gawain, on the other hand, is all blank.
Just like Djokovic and Murray, if players from the same era and the same batch can reach the top together, the number of encounters will continue to accumulate. Perhaps, in this year's Paris Masters, Gao Wen and Raonic's first meeting has such historical significance?
All kinds of things, this also gave the first semi-final of the Paris Masters more meaning. To a certain extent, the discussion was more heated than the other semi-final, even though Djokovic's game was postponed. It was the second game, but the attendance for this game was still very impressive.
Even Gao Wen and Raonic themselves are full of expectations.
It feels a little special and a little novel.
Off the court, they are friends.
On the court, they are rivals.
When the game is over, only one person can have the last laugh, which also means that someone is destined to taste the bitterness of defeat.
However, to show your current best form without reservation, to go all out, to burn out, to spare no effort, to finish the game with the best fight, this is the greatest respect and highest praise for each other, and at the same time It is also the best interpretation of fair play.
Gawain knows this, and so does Raonic.
What's more, this is a duel to compete for a spot in the finals, a competition leading to the finals, and everyone should strive for it with all their strength.
