Nishikori ousts Wu, Isner digs deep to advance
Source: AFP |
October 10, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPAN'S Kei Nishikori cruised through his Shanghai Rolex Masters opener yesterday just 48 hours after lifting his second Tour title in Tokyo, as America's John Isner saved three match points to progress.
Nishikori, the No. 14 seed, who became the first Japanese player to win the Japan Open on Sunday, eased past China's Wu Di 6-2, 6-4 in his first-round match.
"Obviously, it's not easy to play (so soon) after winning the tournament," said the 22-year-old, who is at a career-high No. 15 in the rankings. "But I had a good day today. I love to play here," added Nishikori, who reached the semifinals in Shanghai last year.
Nishikori's weekend win over big-serving Milos Raonic was his first on the Tour since the 2008 Delray Beach title, sharply raising expectations that Asia had uncovered a potential world-beater.
In a battle of two giants, eighth seed John Isner was forced to dig deep to save three match points to win a second-round match containing three tiebreaks and keep alive his outside chance of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals.
Isner booked his place in the third round by beating South Africa's Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (9/7) in two hours and 45 minutes. In a match featuring 45 aces and no service breaks, Anderson squandered match points at 6-4 and 7-6 in the third set tie-break.
Croatian 10th seed Marin Cilic joined Isner in the third round after defeating Slovakia's Martin Klizan, the recent St. Petersburg Open champion.
In first-round action there were straight-sets wins for Canada's 12th seed Raonic and Stanislas Wawrinka, the 13th seed from Switzerland. France's Gilles Simon knocked out Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-4, 6-2.
Seventh seed Juan Monaco of Argentina crashed out 4-6, 2-6 at the hands of former top-10 player Fernando Verdasco of Spain in a late match.
Nishikori, the No. 14 seed, who became the first Japanese player to win the Japan Open on Sunday, eased past China's Wu Di 6-2, 6-4 in his first-round match.
"Obviously, it's not easy to play (so soon) after winning the tournament," said the 22-year-old, who is at a career-high No. 15 in the rankings. "But I had a good day today. I love to play here," added Nishikori, who reached the semifinals in Shanghai last year.
Nishikori's weekend win over big-serving Milos Raonic was his first on the Tour since the 2008 Delray Beach title, sharply raising expectations that Asia had uncovered a potential world-beater.
In a battle of two giants, eighth seed John Isner was forced to dig deep to save three match points to win a second-round match containing three tiebreaks and keep alive his outside chance of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals.
Isner booked his place in the third round by beating South Africa's Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (9/7) in two hours and 45 minutes. In a match featuring 45 aces and no service breaks, Anderson squandered match points at 6-4 and 7-6 in the third set tie-break.
Croatian 10th seed Marin Cilic joined Isner in the third round after defeating Slovakia's Martin Klizan, the recent St. Petersburg Open champion.
In first-round action there were straight-sets wins for Canada's 12th seed Raonic and Stanislas Wawrinka, the 13th seed from Switzerland. France's Gilles Simon knocked out Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-4, 6-2.
Seventh seed Juan Monaco of Argentina crashed out 4-6, 2-6 at the hands of former top-10 player Fernando Verdasco of Spain in a late match.
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