By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 11, 2024
The 35-year-old saved two match points and rallied from two sets down to defeat Jaume Munar on Day 1 of the Australian Open.
Photo Source: TTV
When it comes to Grand Slam drama, Kei Nishikori is the gift that keeps on giving.
The 35-year-old put his stamp on the 2025 Australian Open on Sunday night, saving a pair of two match points as he rallied for a 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro.
How did he feel, finding himself down two match points as he served at 4-5 in the third set?
“I almost gave up,” he said. “He was playing very good.”
But Nishikori pushed through, saving the match points and running through the set to stay alive.
“I tried to stay calm, even though I was almost out of the tournament,” he said. “I tried to focus on what I can do and I tried to fight until the end. In the fourth and fifth I think I started playing much better and feeling the ball much better.”
Nishikori improves to 29-8 in five-setters – he has won eight of nine five-setters played at the Australian Open, his only defeat in a decider coming against Roger Federer in 2017. The former World No.4 improves to 28-10 at the Australian Open and 103-45 at the majors. He will face either Tommy Paul or Christopher O’Connell in the second round.
Though he has been hit hard by injuries over the last two years, Nishikori isn't ready to say goodbye to tennis. He said that the end of 2023 was a really frustrating time for him, and he told himself that if he had to have another surgery, he may be done. But things have gradually turned around from him since.
"I just still love to play tennis," he said. "I love to compete. I wanted to play with big stadium like today. That was my goal a year ago when I was doing rehab. I still think that I still have chance to play with these top players."
Ruud Survives in Five
Sixth-seeded Casper Ruud also went the five-set route on Sunday, edging Spain’s Jaume Munar, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. The Norwegian will face either Jakub Mensik or Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round.
"I'm happy I got through," Ruud said. "I just made more balls towards the end. Played a couple loose sets, a bit too loose, second and fourth, and did too many mistakes. It's okay. We have time in five-setters. I stepped up when I needed the most."