Former world number 4 Kei Nishikori came back from a set and a break down to beat Karen Khachanov 4-6 6-3 7-5 at Victoria Park on New Year’s Eve at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open.
Khachanov earned an early break in the first game and held serve to open up a 2-0 lead. Nishikori broke back in the eighth game to draw level to draw level to 4-4. Khachanov converted his fourth break point in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead and served out the first set 6-4 with a hold at 15.
Khachanov went up a set and a break in the first game of the second set and held serve at 15 to take a 2-0 lead. Nishikori converted his third break-back point to draw level to 2-2. Nishikori broke serve for the second time in the eighth game and served out the second set 6-3 with a hold at 30.
Nishikori broke in the eleventh game and served out on his first match point in the next game to advance to the second round.
Khachanov has returned to the top 100 for the first time since July 2022.
“It feels extra special. I just need to keep going. This will give me a lot of confidence for sure. It’s definitely my biggest win in a long time, over a year. I did not have a good start. I was shaky, missing a lot. I was not sure how I could come back. I was a little bit lucky as he was up a break in the first two sets. Starting from the second set I felt better, and everything worked well in the end”, said Nishikori.
Nishikori will face Cameron Norrie, who edged past Lorenzo Sonego 6-2 4-6 6-1. Norrie broke in the third and seventh games to win the first set 6-2. The second set went on serve until the 10th game when Sonego earned a break on his second set point. Norrie broke three times to win the third set 6-1.
Earlier this week Norrie defeated Next Gen Finals runner-up Learner Tien 6-3 7-5. Sonego beat Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in the first round. Arthur Fils overcame Zizou Bergs 7-6 (9-7) 6-4. Fils saved a set point in the tie-break and won the final three points to seal the first set. Fils broke serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Bergs broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Fils broke for the second time in the ninth game and served out the win on his first match point in the next game.
