Rivalries Of 2015: Nishikori vs. Raonic

ATP World Tour Season In Review: Best Rivalries

To kick off our Season In Review Series, ATPWorldTour.com revisits the fiercest rivalries of 2015. Today we feature Kei Nishikori vs. Milos Raonic:

The young twentysomethings met only twice in 2015, but Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic sure made the most of the occasions. Quantity? Maybe not. Quality? You bet.

The first encounter came in January in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International, where Raonic unleashed 34 aces to power his way past his Japanese opponent 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6(4). The 6-foot-5 Canadian, 24, held each of his 18 service games in the two-and-a-half hour battle. All three sets were decided by tie-breaks, and neither player was able to break the other’s serve.

Nishikori, 25, would exact revenge in Davis Cup play in March, his clutch three-hour 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win forcing a fifth and decisive rubber in the opening-round World Group clash between Japan and Canada.

“I’m happy with the way I fought, I’m happy with the way I competed, and that’s all I can ask of myself,” said Nishikori.

This time, Nishikori withstood a 28-ace barrage from Raonic to prevail in five sets in the hostile territory of Vancouver’s Thunderbird Sports Centre on the campus of the University of British Columbia, where rowdy fans waved flags and sported red-emblazoned hockey jerseys.

Nishikori now leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head history at 5-2.

Nishikori vs. Raonic: 2015 Meetings