Kei Nishikori makes triumphant return to the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships
Former two-time champion Kei Nishikori made a triumphant return to the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo, securing a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Hangzhou champion Marin Čilić in the first round.
This marks Nishikori’s first appearance in Tokyo since 2018, and the win propels him to the second round of the ATP 500 event.
Nishikori, who returned from injury earlier this year, displayed impressive form in front of his home crowd, ultimately sealing the match on his second match point after two hours and three minutes. Reflecting on his win, Nishikori shared the special significance of playing in Tokyo and against Čilić, with whom he has had several intense encounters over the years.
“We have played many great matches, and I know I have had a tough time in the past two years,” Nishikori said. “I was happy to play against Marin and very happy to win.”
The 34-year-old, who previously won the Tokyo title in 2012 and 2014, now holds a 10-6 lead over Čilić in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Although Čilić won their most significant meeting in the 2014 US Open final, Nishikori emerged victorious in this latest clash.
Next, Nishikori will face Australian Jordan Thompson, who upset third-seed Casper Ruud in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-1. Nishikori leads Thompson 2-1 in their head-to-head encounters.
Despite his loss, the 35-year-old Čilić is coming off a strong performance, having won his 21st tour-level title at the ATP 250 event in Hangzhou earlier this week. Both Nishikori and Čilić have battled injuries in recent years, but their performances continue to remind fans of their capabilities on the court.
