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By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, May 27, 2015

Unbelievable around-the-post winner - ESPN Video

Kei Nishikori overcame a very solid clay-courter on Day 4 in Paris with a sizzling 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci to set up a third-round encounter with Germany’s Benjamin Becker. Becker sealed one of the bigger upsets of Day 4 when he took out Fernando Verdasco, 6-4, 0-6, 1-6, 7-5, 10-8.

More: Federer Uses Two-Handed, One-Handed Backhand on Same Point

Bellucci, straight off his first career title last week in Geneva, couldn’t hang with Nishikori’s attack. The fifth seed clocked 39 winners against 30 unforced errors and broke serve on 5 of 12 opportunities. Bellucci managed 24 winners against 43 unforced errors.

“I have a lot of confidence on clay right now,” said Nishikori. “I am feeling really well in these two matches and winning straight sets against a tough player like Thomaz. I’m very happy to be going into the next round.”

Nishikori, who reached the third round at Roland Garros for just the second time, says he’s feeling much better than he did last year when he was playing with an injury to his back.

“Last year I was injured after Madrid and couldn’t really play 100 percent,” he said. “I think that this year I’m feeling comfortable and very confident. My body is good and mentally I’m also good.”

A pick to contend for the title by many, Japan’s top dog will not see another seeded player until the quarterfinals. If he makes it through his third-rounder with Becker, he would see either Lukas Rosol or Teymuraz Gabashvili in the round of 16. His previous best Roland Garros result came in 2013, when he bowed out to Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the round of 16.

 

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