By Chris Oddo | Thursday March 31, 2016
Kei Nishikori snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Thursday in Miami against Gael Monfils.
Photo Source: Christopher Levy
Tightrope Walking is usually the domain of circus savants, but Kei Nishikori couldn’t avoid joining the fraternity today in Miami. The World No. 6 dramatically saved five match points and eventually surged past Gael Monfils in a third-set tiebreaker to claim his spot in the Miami Open semifinals.
More: Kuznetsova Reaches First Miami Final Since '06
It's the type of win that could spearhead a major push from the 26-year-old. Though safely inside the Top-10, Nishikori has been in need of an adrenalizing victory, and on Thursday in Miami he went to the well and got one.
Monfils, yearning for his first Top-10 win in nearly a year, brought the stadium to a fever pitch in the third set when he surged back from a break deficit to level at four games apiece. The Frenchman, making his first Miami quarterfinal appearance, looked to be vulnerable as he suffered in the exhausting heat, but he found a way to summon everything that he had and soon found himself with triple match point in a memorable tenth game.
Suddenly reeling, Nishikori seemed to be about to be toppled.
But there was magic in Japan’s No. 1 on this day. He saved all three match points and confidently walloped a forehand winner a few points later to smother a fourth Monfils match point and held for 5-all.
The drama kept unfolding two games later when Monfils had his fifth look at a match point with Nishikori serving to force a tiebreak. Once again Nishikori rose to the occasion as he feathered a drop shot then put away a forehand volley ever so calmly as a darting Monfils took off on the dead sprint only to learn that Kei’s offering was too good.
Nishikori held his nerve in the ensuing tiebreaker, breaking critically for 5-3 as Monfils netted a re-drop attempt that he really shouldn’t have missed.
It would prove to be the beginning of his end.
The Frenchman would overcook a forehand to give Nishikori three match points of his own on the next point, and Nishikori made the most of the first, hammering a crosscourt forehand winner to put the cherry on top of his incredibly resilient effort.
He crouched over and celebrated, fittingly, by trying to catch his breath.
Nishikori improves to 18-5 (tied for third on ATP tour with Bautista Agut) on the season and reaches his first Masters 1000 semifinal since Montreal last year. He will face either Milos Raonic or Nick Kyrgios on Friday for a chance at his second career Masters 1000 final and first since Madrid in 2014.
Notes, Numbers
After losing seven of nine vs. the Top-20, Nishikori has now won three of four since Indian Wells… Nishikori improves to 2-0 vs. Monfils lifetime… Monfils drops to 15-5 with the loss, matching his best 20-match result to start a season ever. He has started 15-5 in the last three seasons… Nishikori improves to 61-35 lifetime at the Masters events and 16-5 lifetime in Miami.