Kei Nishikori required almost three hours to see off Nick Kyrgios 6-7(6), 7-6(1), 6-3, in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open.
The epic encounter pushed Nishikori to his limits as Kyrgios fired 18 aces past him. Despite not producing as many aces as his opponent, Nishikori was equally impressive in his service games as he fended off all three break points he faced in the final set.
“I think it was a great match,” Nishikori said after his marathon victory.
“Both of us played at a very high level. I thought he served really well”
The victory might of been claimed in two sets if Nishikori capitalized on his chances at the start of the second set. The world No.6 had a double chance to break in the first game of the set but failed to convert.
“I had many opportunities in the first and second set, many breakpoints, I couldn’t convert”. The 26-year-old admitted.
“If I played those important points better, maybe I could have finish in two sets.”
The hard fought victory will take Nishikori into his eighth Masters 1000 semifinals and his second of this season. In the last four the Japanese player will face either Novak Djokovic or Milos Raonic. Nishikori has a strong winning record against Raonic (5-2), however, his nemesis is the formidable Djokovic, who he trails 2-7. Discussing the prospect of meeting No.10 with the world No.1, Nishikori is seeing the potential encounter as a ‘good challenge’.
“When you play top players you need to have very good tactics. I always talk with my coach Dante and Michael night before,” Nishikori said about preparing for his next match.
“ I know it’s going to be tough, but it is a great challenge for me. I think it will help that I have beaten him once or twice before, but I have never won on clay.” He later added about potentially playing Djokovic.
Friday’s triumph is Nishikori’s 40th win on clay since 2013. He has now extended his career win-loss record at the Madrid Open to 14-4.
.@keinishikori needed 2hr 38 to get past #Kyrgios. Plays Djokovic or Raonic on Sat. https://t.co/kRsZ9udpkC #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/6mkH6EUFaL
— TennisTV (@TennisTV) 6 May 2016
