Kei Nishikori performed a sporting miracle in the 1st round of the Australian Open 2025, continuing the excellent performances shown at the beginning of this season.
The Japanese conquered a final in the first tournament of the year in Hong Kong and has now been the protagonist of a powerful comeback against Thiago Monteiro in Melbourne, with the opponent who was leading 6-4, 7-6. And even in the third set he was threatening the delicate service game of Nishikori, down 4-5.
The 35-year-old Japanese player was able to cancel out two match points, before reacting and completely overturning the score (7-5, 6-2, 6-3 are the sets that gave him the victory and the pass to the second round, where he will face Tommy Paul or Christopher O’Connell).
Nishikori and Monteiro© Stream screenshot
A moment of great joy for the former finalist of the 2014 US Open, who is the second player in history for the record of victories obtained in the fifth set (29-8).
“When I get into that situation I try not to think beyond the next point. Having won so many games in the fifth set gives me a lot of confidence. I think my rivals also know that I am good at competing in that context and they feel the pressure,” he said at the press conference.
The Japanese player has suffered many injuries in his career, as Nishikori himself highlighted in the press room.
“There were times last year when I thought I would never play again. Recovering from my shoulder and knee injuries and seeing the relapses afterwards was very difficult. I thought that if I had to undergo surgery again, I would not be able to continue fighting. My big goal was to play important matches on big courts again and now I still think I can do it against high-level players. I want to enjoy tennis and have confidence in my ability again,” added the Japanese, which will try to add more glory to his path, in the 2nd round of the Happy Slam.
Tennis World USA