Nadal beats Nishikori to set up semifinal clash with Djokovic at Indian Wells

My mobile phone battery lasts longer than Nishikori's energy/stamina !

some14some: Maybe he was in power reserve mode.

In any case, I don't think many, if anyone, expected Nishikori to win. What's sad to me, though, is that in Nishikori match you almost never hear these guys praising him anymore, whereas when Djokovic beat his opponent the other day he said about him, "He's going to be big" and talked about his great serves. Has Nishikori gotten THAT bad that the won't even say anything about him these days, or is it just not reported on here?

Anyway, only the big guns left! Good luck, and better luck next time to Kei.

Never to mind, good showing to make the QFs for Nishikori. Can't beat Nadal every time I guess. Happy for him to be back in the running here but he'll have a tough time getting past Djokovic should he be the SF opponent.

Murray and Stan already out in the other side of the draw so the SF might be regarded as the final.

fxgai: "Can't beat Nadal every time I guess"

Ummm... or more than once, to be specific. Agree with you on the SF being more exciting than what the final is probably going to be like.

What's sad to me, though, is that in Nishikori match you almost never hear these guys praising him anymore

According to Washington Post, Nadal said Nishikori was "hitting all the balls very well, very aggressive, and serving great." Well, with a 89% first serve rate, Nadal deserved to win.

My man, Rafa!

Has Nishikori gotten THAT bad that the won't even say anything about him these days, or is it just not reported on here?

Not sure what you want them to say. He is 26 years old. Its not like he needs to be babied.

From the way I saw it through bleary early-morning eyes, Nishikori had the momentum early in the match, then lost it on his own blunders. He just seemed to fold up ...

Gotta get his act in gear if he wants to beat those higher-ranked guys ...

therougou: "Not sure what you want them to say. He is 26 years old. Its not like he needs to be babied."

He doesn't need to be babied, I'm just pointing out that he seems they don't really have any respect for him. As I said, Djokovic praised his opponent highly after the match, saying "watch out! (for him in the future)", but when he beat Nishikori earlier this year, very easily I might add, he said nothing. Or at least, it turns out nothing was reported.

Thank you kick board for clarifying. Glad Nadal had something somewhat constructive to say.

"Djokovic praised his opponent highly after the match, saying....."

The "opponent" your thinking of is Alexander Zverev a talented 1.96 cm upcoming 18 year old from Germany who played Rafael Nadal not Djokovic in the 4th round and had a match point but ended up losing to Nadal. Nadal did highly praise his opponent Zverev saying he was a future No. 1 though.

Nadal is getting old