Kei Nishikori gets the home win against Holger Rune

Nishikori has had to cope with a series of physical setbacks in recent years that have interrupted the Japanese’s outstanding career. First his shoulder and then his knee injuries led to his return being postponed until the current 2024 season.

At the Japan Open, Nishikori experienced a renaissance. He seemed much more confident and found his trademark movement on the pitch – one of the highlights of his game.

Against Rune he had everything to win, but in the end the Dane prevailed in a tight three-set battle, although it was Nishikori himself who took the most spectacular point of the day, setting up his opponent with a surgical lob The backhand side hits like it says in the books.