The Stats Zone
July 7 2019, 16:00 · Adam Evans

2019 Wimbledon Championships – Kei Nishikori vs Mikhail Kukushkin Preview & Prediction

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THE FACTS

Where is Kei Nishikori vs Mikhail Kukushkin taking place? All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London

When is Kei Nishikori vs Mikhail Kukushkin on and what time does it start? Monday 8th July, 2019 – (not before) TBC (UK)

What is the expected weather for Kei Nishikori vs Mikhail Kukushkin? Partly cloudy with a temperature around 21c

What channel is Kei Nishikori vs Mikhail Kukushkin on? Matches will air on BBC1, BBC2 and BBC Red Button throughout the tournament

Where can I stream Kei Nishikori vs Mikhail Kukushkin? BBC iPlayer / BBC Sport website / BBC Sport app

Where can I get tickets for Kei Nishikori vs Mikhail Kukushkin?

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THE LOWDOWN

HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time meetings: Kei Nishikori 8-0 Mikhail Kukushkin
Last meeting: Kei Nishikori beat Mikhail Kukushkin

KEI NISHIKORI

  • Kei Nishikori looks to be in his best form for some time after a third-round straight-sets dismissal of Australia’s John Millman.
  • Nishikori has a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time in his career as he faces world number 58 Mikhail Kukushkin, to whom he has not lost in eight meetings.
  • The Japanese number one’s 8-0 head-to-head record with the Kazakh is reinforced by a victory on every surface and spans from 2011 to last year’s straight-sets win in Vienna.

MIKHAIL KUKUSHKIN

  • Mikhail Kukushkin is one of the surprise packages at this year’s Wimbledon after complementing his second-round five-set epic win over ninth-seed John Isner with an assured performance against Jan-Lennard Struff in the third.
  • 31-year-old Kukushkin is into the round of 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time since 2012 and just the second time ever but will not relish playing an in-form Kei Nishikori again.
  • The Kazakh lost all but one of his grass-court matches in the run-up to Wimbledon, beating Lorenzo Sonego in the first round of the Libema Open, and exited seven of his last eight tournaments at the earliest stage.

THE PREDICTION

The record speaks for itself between Kei Nishikori and Mikhail Kukushkin and while the Kazakh has had an excellent Wimbledon campaign, his five-set win over John Isner was somewhat affected by Isner’s return from injury. In fact, the last time Kukushkin even took a set from Nishikori was six meetings ago in 2012, and the Japanese number one looks in excellent form on grass right now. Kukushkin could indeed end his set-drought with Nishikori but the 8th seed should find himself in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the second successive year.