Sixth seed Kei Nishikori was forced to produce some of his best tennis on Wednesday to subdue the baseline power of Diego Schwartzman at the Mutua Madrid Open. In a high-quality encounter, belying the scoreline of the first two sets, Nishikori recorded his 15th match win at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, with a 1-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory in two hours. Nishikori, the 2014 runner-up (l. to Nadal), drew on his reserves to come through a 22-point first service game and led 3-1 in the deciding set, before Schwartzman made a comeback. Nishikori, who had defeated Schwartzman over three sets at the Argentina Open in February, could not convert four match point opportunities at 5-3, but one game...
Second seed Kei Nishikori survived a stern challenge from Federico Delbonis on Tuesday, advancing to the fourth round of the Miami Open presented by Itaú with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over the Argentine. After snatching the second set to level the match, the No. 57-ranked Delbonis, who had upset 15th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round, took an early break lead in the decider. But Nishikori reeled off five of the last six games to prevail in two hours and 14 minutes. The 27-year-old Nishikori is looking to win his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown and goes on to face Fabio Fognini for a spot in the last four. Watch Full Match Replays “I tried...
Second seed Kei Nishikori overcame a third-round test at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Sunday, edging Fernando Verdasco 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-1 in two hours and 44 minutes. Runner-up to Novak Djokovic last year, Nishikori improved to 19-6 at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. Also a semi-finalist in 2014 and quarter-finalist in 2015, the Japanese will look to reach the last eight in Miami for the fourth straight year when he takes on Federico Delbonis next. "It was definitely a long match," said Nishikori. "It wasn't easy in the third set, but I have a day off tomorrow, so I should be okay." The 27-year-old Nishikori fired 37 winners, but Verdasco seemed to have an answer for...