ZCZC
BSP-14
TENNIS-ATP-AUS
Nishikori powers through to Brisbane final
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Japanese star Kei Nishikori
was in superb form as he demolished Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals
of the Brisbane International on Saturday.
The 29-year-old gave his French opponent no chance as he put on a
commanding all court display to advance to the final for the second time in
three years.
After his impressive straight sets quarter-final win over Grigor Dimitrov,
Nishikori said he had set his sights on returning to the world’s top five
after falling to 39 last April due to a wrist injury at the end of 2017 that
required time away from the tour.
And he showed all the qualities of a top five player in his 66-minute
demolition at the Pat Rafter Arena.
He only served two aces compared with the 11 sent down by Chardy, but
Nishikori returned superbly and pressured the Frenchman’s serve throughout,
breaking him twice in each set.
Nishikori also moved around the court well, his speed not noticeably
affected by the injuries that hampered him last year.
“Everything was working well today,” Nishikori said.
“I felt like I was too fast on the court today — I felt very good.
“Physically and tennis-wise I think it was perfect. I served well, I
returned well — I think that was the key today — and I was moving well,
that was fantastic.”
Nishikori was runner-up to Dimitrov in 2017 and will go into Sunday’s final
against either fourth seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev or Frenchman Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga as firm favourite.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1323 hrs