Nishikori advances in Tokyo, will face Gasquet
Kei Nishikori's team of Glenn Weiner (Bollettieri Academy Traveling Coach), Olivier van Lindonk (Kei's IMG Manager), and Gabe Jaramillo (Bollettieri Academy Director of Tennis and Head Coach (left to right front row)
NBTA student Kei Nishikori won his second round match at the AIG Open in Tokyo over 16th-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 6-4 in just about an hour and 53 minutes. Nishikori had 16 break chances against Garcia-Lopez, and only converted on three of them. Anytime you get that many opportunities you have got to convert on a good percentage of them. Kei got the win, but he has to capitalize on his chances.
Kei will now face Richard Gasquet, who is seeded four, in the third round. Gasquet reached the finals of this tournament last year before losing to David Ferrer. He beat Austrian Martin Slanar today 6-4, 6-2. This will be the first career meeting between Nishikori and Gasquet. Good luck to Kei in the next round!
With Kei’s win, he joins fellow Japanese player Takao Suzuki in the third round. Suzuki, who is ranked #593 in the world, upset #15 Simone Bolelli 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5). It represents the first time since 1980 (Kamiwazumi, Fukui) that two Japanese players have reached the last 16. I am sure the excitement in Tokyo is palpable.
Other winners today included defending champion and top-seed David Ferrer, #2 Andy Roddick, #6 Tommy Robredo, #7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, #8 Mikhail Youzhny, #9 Tomas Berdych, #11 Jarkko Nieminen, #12 Rainer Schuettler, and #14 Jurgen Melzer.
Everyone in Japan is crazy about Kei. He is a sensation. All are good to tennis in Japan.
I followed his every game and wrote about it. Hope he’ll win all the way!