Kei Nishikori carried out a sporting miracle within the 1st spherical of the Australian Open 2025, persevering with the superb performances proven at first of this season.
The Japanese conquered a remaining within the first event of the yr in Hong Kong and has now been the protagonist of a robust comeback towards Thiago Monteiro in Melbourne, with the opponent who was main 6-4, 7-6. And even within the third set he was threatening the fragile service sport of Nishikori, down 4-5.
The 35-year-old Japanese participant was in a position to cancel out two match factors, earlier than reacting and fully overturning the rating (7-5, 6-2, 6-3 are the units that gave him the victory and the move to the second spherical, the place he’ll face Tommy Paul or Christopher O’Connell).
Nishikori and Monteiro© Stream screenshot
A second of nice pleasure for the previous finalist of the 2014 US Open, who’s the second participant in historical past for the report of victories obtained within the fifth set (29-8).
“When I get into that situation I try not to think beyond the next point. Having won so many games in the fifth set gives me a lot of confidence. I think my rivals also know that I am good at competing in that context and they feel the pressure,” he stated on the press convention.
The Japanese participant has suffered many accidents in his profession, as Nishikori himself highlighted within the press room.
“There were times last year when I thought I would never play again. Recovering from my shoulder and knee injuries and seeing the relapses afterwards was very difficult. I thought that if I had to undergo surgery again, I would not be able to continue fighting. My big goal was to play important matches on big courts again and now I still think I can do it against high-level players. I want to enjoy tennis and have confidence in my ability again,” added the Japanese, which is able to attempt to add extra glory to his path, within the 2nd spherical of the Joyful Slam.
