Kei Nishikori replaced the injured Taylor Fritz in Vienna

The tennis tournament in the Vienna Stadthalle has to accept a prominent cancellation. Instead of US top star Taylor Fritz, Kei Nishikori will serve.

The organizers of the Erste Bank Open in the Wiener Stadthalle did not receive any good news on Wednesday: world number six Taylor Fritz (USA), who would have been number 3 in the anniversary edition of the traditional tennis tournament, is unable to take part due to a muscle injury cancelled. In his place, the Japanese former world number four Kei Nishikori received a wildcard.

Nishikori is fighting for his connection after several operations, most recently a hip operation in January 2022, and is currently number 143 in the ranking. Quarterfinals at the ATP 1000 tournament in Montreal and most recently in Tokyo are evidence of an upward trend for the 34-year-old. “Kei Nishikori is still a superstar in the tennis circuit who enjoys absolute cult status in his native Japan,” says tournament boss Herwig Straka. He is also pleased about the further increase in TV interest: his tournament will be broadcast in almost 200 countries worldwide – more than ever before. (APA)