Nishikori thankful for rain as he avoids French Open upset

Kei Nishikori hailed the impact of a rain interruption after he scraped past Chung Hyeon to reach the French Open fourth round.

Having claimed the opening two sets on Saturday, Nishikori lost the third and was 3-0 down in the fourth when adverse weather conditions forced the players off.

World number 67 Chung levelled matters emphatically when he completed a fourth-set bagel upon the resumption of play on Sunday, setting up an enthralling decider.

However, Nishikori recovered to rescue the win – a Chung double fault ultimately handing the eighth seed victory.

“I think the rain helped me a lot,” he said. “I was really down in the fourth set and mentally I wasn’t ready.

“I knew I had to change something to beat him today, so I think I made some adjustments to make it a little better than yesterday.

“Mentally I was a little more fresh and physically, too.

“[I had] a little more energy in my legs. That helped me a lot.”

.@keinishikori survives the upset!

Safely through to the R16, 7-5 6-4 6-7(4) 0-6 6-4 over an inspired Chung.

Next up: Verdasco.#RG17 pic.twitter.com/KLZIPI8ebI

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2017

Chung was keen to take the positives after coming close to a major scalp on his first appearance in the third round of a major.

“It’s been a great experience in Paris,” he commented. “I made the third round for the first time in a grand slam.

“Maybe I have more experience and I have to enjoy.

“I’m looking forward to another grand slam.”

Nishikori plays Fernando Verdasco in the next round.