Ever since the mid 2010’s, Japan’s Kei Nishikori has yet to return to top level form. With a wrist injury sidelining him in 2017 which resulted in a fall in the rankings, Nishikori has yet to make deep runs at tournaments at Grand Slams. However, the 31 year old has proven that the candle has yet to be extinguished as he has made a deep run at this year’s Dubai Open.
Nishikori has defeated big serving American Riley Opelka, Belgium’s David Goffin and Aljaz Bedene on route to the quarter finals. Goffin, who was the number 5 seed in the tournament, was coming off a stellar run at the Montpellier Open after winning that title. The Belgium proved to be no match for Nishikori as he was dispatched in straight sets [6-3, 7-6 (7-3)].
Nishikori hitting at backhand volley. Photograph by: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Nishikori made a run to the quarter finals at 3 of the 4 Grand Slams in 2019 which included the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon Championships. He has yet to prove he can return to the semi final or final stage of a Grand Slam but has proven that he is still a dark horse at other tournaments despite his ranking at number 40 in the world.
Nishikori was also one of the first professional tennis players to contract the COVID-19 virus during the early stages of the pandemic. He was ordered to stay in isolation at his residence in Bradenton, Florida until test results showed he was negative.
In hopes to win the Dubai Open, Nishikori awaits the winner of the Fillip Krajinovic and Lloyd Harris match to set up a quarter final clash on Thursday.
With the twilight years of Roger Federer upon tennis fans, just one blink of an eye is enough to miss him play on the professional tour. No matter, the Swiss legend made his return Wednesday night in Doha, Qatar against world number 26 Dan Evans from Great Britain.
In what is Federer’s first tournament since the 2020 Australian Open due to two knee surgeries, the Swiss was looking to get back in rhythm as tennis fans around the world awaited his return. The 20 time Grand Slam champion had a bye in the opening round of the 2021 Qatar Open and faced Dan Evans in his round of 16 match.
The first set was super tight as neither player dropped serve with Dan Evans pushing for the only break point in the set at 4-4. Both pros held their serve to eventually force a first set tie-breaker at 6-6. Federer started off the tie-breaker winning the first two points before eventually losing the next three to trail 2-3. Despite a few errors and great defensive play by Evans, Federer who was leading 9-8 in the tiebreaker with set point, was able to lure the Brit into the net and hit a beautiful one handed backhand cross court passing shot to take the first set tie-breaker 10-8.
The Swiss looked to capitalize off of the first set as he forced a break point on Evans’ serve. However, the world number 26 quickly erased the break point with a serve and volley to eventually tie the second set at one game a piece. Federer, who had been slightly rusty throughout much of the match made crucial errors resulting in Dan Evans breaking his serve. Dan Evans would continue to hold his serve despite Federer hitting miraculous forehands and drop shots to win the second set six games to three and force a deciding third set.
The match was pushed to a third and final set where the Federer and Evans showed just how versatile their games are. They each held their serve up until the 10th game with Federer leading 5-4 and Evans serving to stay in the match. Federer was able to return several of the Brit’s serves and maneuver him around the court to force a match point at 40-30. Despite being down a match point, Dan Evans showed his grit again after successfully erasing the match point with another serve and volley.
In the 12th game with Federer leading 6-5 and Evans serving to stay in the match again, the Swiss Maestro took a strangle hold on the match after forcing another match point at 40-15. Evans served the ball with Roger returning off the forehand wing setting up a slow slice return from Evans. Federer quickly pounced on this opportunity and hit a laser one hand backhand down the line shot to win the match in dramatic fashion.
Roger Federer serving in his first match back. Photograph: Getty Images
“Winning feels better and it was a great match. Dan played a great match and has been a great practice partner these past two weeks,” said Roger Federer in his post match interview. The 20 time Grand Slam champion also showed his compassion to the world during this COVID-19 pandemic by stating, “I hope everyone is healthy and safe and feeling alright because it’s a difficult time in the world. I hope tonight was a bit of an uplift for everything that is going on in the world.”
Federer won the match [7-6(10-8), 3-6, 7-5] and will play Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia tomorrow starting at 9:00am CST.
In what has been an interesting week thus far at the Rotterdam Open with top seeded Medvedev losing in his first match as well as Kei Nishikori making a quarter final run, it is the younger Russian Andrey Rublev who will be making yet another ATP 500 tournament final. Rublev, who won three ATP 500 tournaments in 2020 finds himself in yet another final for an ATP 500 event.
Rublev has followed up his quarter final run at this year’s Australian Open with yet another stellar week in Rotterdam as he eyes his 8th ATP trophy on Sunday. The young Russian has made a burst on the tour following his stellar 2020 season where he won 5 tournaments and broke into the top 10 in the FedEx ranking system. Hoping to cap off yet another deep run at a tournament, Rublev will look to plow through the final with his powerful forehand leading the charge.
Andrey Rublev after his win over former world No. 1 Andy Murray. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Facing Rublev on Sunday will be Hungarian Marton Fucsovics. The 29 year old veteran had to go through qualifying for the Rotterdam Open and has found his rhythm as he has reached his first ATP 500 tournament final in his career. Fucsovics made a third round push at the Australian Open defeating 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka in an epic 5 set match where he almost choked a 2 sets to none lead against the Swiss.
The Rotterdam final will begin around 8:30am CST with the winner taking home 2.155 million Euros and 500 ATP ranking points.
Fucsovics hitting a forehand. Photo via Fucsovic’s Twitter
