Kei Nishikori has reached the Round of Sixteen at the GERRY WEBER OPEN for the sixth time. Last time was in 2016, whereas in the last three years the Japanese had to give up due to injuries in Halle. He had to give up in the Semis in 2015, in the Round of Sixteen in 2016 and 2017. After the 6:3, 7:6(3) victory against Matthias Bachinger he now hopes for successful and healthy times.
At the beginning of the match Nishikori's opponent didn't stand a chance.Not one break point for Bachinger in the first set. The world's No. 27 from Japan gave away two break chances in the German Qualifiers service game. In the forth game he did better, used his break point and went into the lead: 3:1.
"I hope that nothing like that happens this year", the World's No. 27 stated about his misfortune in the last years. Nishikori, who already got to the Masters Final at Monte Carlo this year, was able to get his service through safely. He won the first set in 30 minutes.
The longer the game went on, the better Bachinger, who was in the Main Field at the GERRY WEBER OPEN for the first time, got into the game.
Both players had difficulty getting their service through in the second set. Although th No. 7 seed from Japan was able to break 2:1, the Germans' revenge however came promptly and achieved a rebreak. But the man from Munich then lost his service again. Because Nishikori made numerious mistakes, especially in the second set and didn't play convincingly, the World's No. 159 from Germany could even once more (4:4).
The spectators at the GERRY WEBER STADION now saw a tight and exciting duel, that went into a tiebreak. Here Nishikori showed the same superior performance as in the first set and used his second match point after 1:23 hours. "I am very happy to have won. The first match is never easy", the Japanese player said after the match.
Kei Nishikori will either meet Mischa Zverev or Karen Khachanov in the Round of Sixteen.
Read the interview with Kei
