Canada hosts Japan this weekend in a rematch of their Davis Cup World Group first-round tie from 2014. A tie, that Japan won 4-1. But there should be a big old asterisk next to that result, because Canada was without their top two players due to injury: Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil. Now, both are healthy so it will be a fair fight.
The fight everyone is waiting for is Sunday’s singles match between world number 4, Kei Nishikori and world number 6, Milos Raonic. This is turning into a great rivalry in the men’s game. Nishikori has the 4-2 advantage in their head-to-head, with the most memorable match to date being at last year’s U.S. Open when Nishikori won the epic 5-setter.
I recommend, of course, that you listen intently to Sportsnet’s call of Sunday’s match, but if you want a different experience, perhaps listen to Swan Lake as Nishikori dances across the court. His movement is top notch and his backhand is beautiful (I debated using another word to describe it, but no synonym would suffice). With Raonic’s booming serve and whip of a forehand on the quick indoor-hard courts, we’re due for an epic battle. If the hard courts behave, they’ll allow Raonic to keep his service points nice and short.
But why are we focusing on Sunday’s match when it’s on the third and final day of competition? Because selfishly, I wanted to sell you on this preview piece. Now that I have your attention, we can delve into the scenarios that lie ahead.
First up on Friday is Raonic against the 85th ranked player in the world, Tatsuma Ito, in a match that the Canadian is expected to win quite handily. That would put Canada up 1-0.
Next up is Vernon, BC’s Vasek Pospisil against Nishikori on Friday afternoon. Ranked 62nd in the world, Pospisil is admittedly the underdog. He’s not expected to win this match but what he is expected to do, is try and wear Nishikori down a bit. Score would now be 1-1.
Pospisil is the x-factor in all of this. He plays a singles match Friday, doubles with his partner Daniel Nestor on Saturday and another singles match on Sunday. That being said, he’ll need all the help he can get from 42-year-old Nestor on Saturday. Nestor went 0 and 2 last year in Davis Cup action and needs to step up and be the anchor for this team like we’ve seen him be for over two decades.
Realistically, Canada hopes to lead 2-1 headed into Sunday, setting the table for Raonic to beat Nishikori to win the Davis Cup tie and move Canada onto the quarters.
That’s the plan. Let’s see if it actually happens.