Kei Nishikori continues to showcase his exceptional form leading up to major tennis events like the Australian Open. The star Japanese player created a stir by defeating world No. 40 Jeremy Chardy, earning a spot in the prestigious Brisbane International final.Currently ranked world No. 9, Nishikori dominated with a 6-2 6-2 victory at Pat Rafter Arena on Saturday, setting up a showdown with Daniil Medvedev or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as he vies for his first title in nearly three years.
The second-seeded Nishikori capitalized on Chardy’s serving errors, exploiting the Frenchman’s struggles to win points on his second serve.Chardy’s high error count (26-8) proved costly as Nishikori, who had previously defeated world No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals, sealed the match in just over an hour.
Describing his performance, Nishikori remarked, “Today’s match was almost perfect. My serving and returns were exceptional. I noticed he made more mistakes compared to his previous matches. However, I maintained a solid game.”
The sets were evenly matched, tied at 2-2 before the 2017 Brisbane finalist Nishikori secured key breaks. The 29-year-old is eyeing his first title since the 2016 Memphis Open.
Heading into the final against either 16th-ranked Medvedev or Tsonga, Nishikori is considered a strong contender. Expressing his anticipation of facing Tsonga, Nishikori praised the French veteran’s return to form and talent on the court.
Despite missing last year’s Australian Open due to injury, Nishikori has made a remarkable comeback this season. His victory over Dimitrov, who previously defeated him in Brisbane, stands out as a significant achievement.
