Kei Nishikori came back from one set down to beat number 3 seed Alexander Zverev 3-6 6-3 6-4 in 2 hours and 13 minutes in the second semifinal of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on a sunny and hot afternoon.
World number 36 Nishikori had not beaten a top 10 player since Brisbane 2017 and has scored two wins in a row beating Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev this week. The Japanese player, who was sidelined by a serious wrist injury in the second half of the 2016 season, has reached the fourth Masters 1000 final of his career.
Nishikori is the first Japanese player to reach a final in Monte-Carlo. He is bidding to make history as the first player to win a Masters 1000 title.
“I enjoyed playing this tournament. It’s a great place to play tennis. I am happy to be back in final at a ATP World Tour Masters 1000 again. It’s been a long time for me. Hopefully I can have another good day tomorrow”, said Nishikori.
Zverev beat Nishikori in their only head-to-head match in straight sets in Washington. The young German Next Gen star won the first set with a double break, but Nishikori bounced back and won the second set to force the match to the decider. The 2014 US Open finalist broke serve in the final game of the match to set up a final against 10-time Monte-Carlo finalist Rafael Nadal.
Zverev served at only 49 % and dropped his serve four times. Nishikori was broken only once in the fourth game of the second set.
Zverev broke serve in the seventh game at 3-3 at deuce, when Nishikori made a third consecutive error. Sasha sealed the opening set with a double break, when Nishikori hit a forehand long.
Zverev came back from 0-2 down in the second set by reeling three consecutive games with a break-back in the fourth game, but Nishikori sealed the second set with a double break in the seventh and ninth games.
Both players saved two break points in their first service games of the third set. Nishikori hit a forehand volley at 3-3 at deuce to win a 10-minute service game and closed out the match with a break in the 10th game at deuce, when Zverev hit a backhand wide.
Nishikori has scored two consecutive wins against top 10 players for the first time since the 2014 US Open, when he reached the final. He has become the first non-European player to reach the final at the Monte-Carlo Country Club since Guillermo Coria in 2005.
Nishikori before this year’s edition, came through a three-set match for the fourth time this week. He is playing in the Principality for just the second time in his career six years after his only appearance in 2012, when he lost to Tomas Berdych in the round of 16.
Nadal leads 9-2 in his 11 head-to-head matches against Nishikori and beat the Japanese player in two finals in Madrid 2014 and in Barcelona in 2016 on clay, but Nishikori won their most recent match 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on a hard-court.
“Nadal has been playing amazing this week, dominating all the matches against good players. I am happy to be back in a Masters 1000 final again. It was a tough match again, playing a long three set, but I think I was playing very good all three sets and he was, so it was a very good match for both of us. Rafa has been hitting very heavy especially on his forehand, but also his backhand. I hope I can find a way to beat him. To see him this week, it looks a little bit difficult. The match in 2014 in Madrid gives me a bit of confidence. It’s a different situation here, but I am sure it’s a little bit tougher to play him on hard court or clay court. It’s going to be tough to play Rafa on clay, but I think I am getting there, like what I used to play a couple of years ago. I hope I can play good tennis tomorrow”, said Nishikori.
Zverev was bidding to become the first German player to reach the Monte-Carlo final since Boris Becker in 1995.
