Match Report
House star Nishikori earns opening win towards Cilic in Tokyo
Japanese is two-time champion at ATP 500
September 26, 2024
Kenta Harada/Getty Pictures
Kei Nishikori in motion in Tokyo.
By Sam Jacot
Former two-time champion Kei Nishikori is a match winner on the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships as soon as once more.
Competing in Tokyo for the primary time since 2018, the Japanese star overcome Hangzhou champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Thursday to succeed in the second spherical on the ATP 500 occasion.
Nishikori returned from harm this yr and made the quarter-finals on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Montreal in August. The previous No. 4 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings now leads Cilic 10-6 within the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence, however did lose their largest assembly within the US Open closing 10 years in the past in 2014.
“There have been a few particular moments for me. Taking part in right here right here is particular for me. I have not performed right here in a very long time,” Nishikori mentioned. “Taking part in Cilic is [special]. We’ve performed many nice matches and I do know I’ve had a tricky time previously two years and I’ve been in the identical state of affairs. I used to be glad to play towards Marin and really glad to win.”
KEI NISHIKORI.
That’s the tweet…@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/V2RKWicpmQ
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 26, 2024
Nishikori, who triumphed in Tokyo in 2012 and 2014, hit cleanly in entrance of a capability crowd on Coliseum to earn victory on his second match level after two hours and three minutes. The 34-year-old pumped the air following his win and embraced the roar from his dwelling followers.
Nishikori will subsequent play third seed Casper Ruud or Australian Jordan Thompson.
Tokyo Match Win Leaders
The 35-year-old Cilic gained his twenty first tour-level title and first since 2021 on Tuesday when he clinched the crown in Hangzhou. Like former Prime 5 star Nishikori, Cilic has struggled with accidents in recent times, however reminded followers of what he was able to final week in Hangzhou on the ATP 250, the place he beat Zhang Zhizhen within the closing.
