TENNIS ATP KUALA LUMPUR – This year’s US Open finalist Kei Nishikori won the third title in 2014 and the sixth in his career after Memphis and Barcelona when he defeated Frenchman Julien Benneteau with 7-6 6-4 at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. Diego Sampaolo
This year’s US Open finalist Kei Nishikori won the third title in 2014 and the sixth in his career after Memphis and Barcelona when he defeated Frenchman Julien Benneteau with 7-6 6-4 at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. Benneteau, who upset Ernests Gulbis in the semifinal, was looking to win his first title in Kuala Lumpur after losing both finals in 2012 against Juan Monaco and 2013 against Joao Sousa. The Frenchman lost all the 10 finals he played in his career
The Frenchman went up a break and served for the set. He saved nine of the 10 break points he faced but he could not maintain the lead-
In the second set Benneteau got two break points at 2-1 15-40 but Nishikori saved them and held serve at deuce. The Frenchman held serve in the fifth game but Nishikori reeled off 13 consecutive points and got the decisive break. Benneteau held serve for the last time but Nishikori hit a passing shot at 5-4 30-15 to seal the win
Nishikori sealed the win in one hour and 47 minutes. The Japanese player won 72 percent of his first serve points.
Benneteau continues his curse in ATP Finals having lost all his ten title matches.
“It was a tough start because he was playing so aggressive. I had so many break points but I could not take them. In the last game he got a little bit tight. After that I played much better and he was getting a little bit tired in the second set”, said Nishikori
Nishikori has boosted his chance to become the first Asian player to play at the ATP Finals. He is ranked sixth in the Race t London with a gap of 310 points over David Ferrer.
