Nishikori Saves Two Match Points in Comeback Victory

Kei Nishikori, a Grand Slam finalist from more than a decade ago battling on to add a few more pages to the final chapter of his professional career, sat out of the previous three Australian Opens.

- HT Correspondent

MUMBAI: Across the last three seasons, the 35-year-old has competed in all of two Slams, his most recent appearance being a first-round exit at 2024 Wimbledon.

Two sets to love down. Two match points down. Everything pointed towards another early exit for the Japanese. Some players, however, don't know anything but to dig in and fight when pushed to the brink. Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up, is one of them.

Sure enough, Nishikori dug in, fought, and eventually came out a 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 winner against qualifier Thiago Monteiro at the John Cain Arena in Melbourne on Sunday.

It was the most eventful match on a day marred by rain on the first day of the season-opening Slam that suspended a number of matches on the outside courts.

Nishikori, a former world No. 4, doesn't flaunt an extraordinary game. But what he does possess is a steely mind. His body may be ageing but that mind isn't rusting.