Kei Nishikori nails victory to maintain Japanese medal hopes alive
Kei Nishikori got here by means of a tricky encounter with American Marcos Giron to maintain tennis medal hopes going for the host nation.
The former world quantity 4 may have introduced again some happiness for Japanese followers after the shock of Naomi Osaka’s exit earlier in Tokyo.
Nishikori seemed sturdy to open the match, break serve at 1-1 within the first set, earlier than surrendering the break again for 3-3, ultimately taking it to a tiebreak.
The 2014 US Open finalist clinched it 7-5 to realize the benefit within the match.
But Giron didn’t lie down, and the American instantly broke Nishikori and held agency on his personal serve earlier than breaking once more to say the second set 6-3.
Nishikori regathered himself although, breaking within the opening recreation, then doing so twice extra for a convincing 6-1 scoreline within the deciding set.
The Japanese star already has a bronze medal from Rio 2016, however will probably be hoping so as to add to his tally within the pleasure of a house Olympics.
He will subsequent face in-form Belarusian Ilya Ivashka for a spot within the quarter-finals.