Thiem’s new high and Nishikori return: Tennis talking points

Dominic Thiem is climbing up the rankings while Kei Nishikori is set to return to action for the first time in 2020.

AFP Sport looks at this week’s tennis talking points:


Thiem moves past Federer

— He may still be waiting to join the ‘Big Three’ as a Grand Slam winner, but at least Dominic Thiem now has the consolation of breaking the stranglehold on the rankings enjoyed by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

On Monday, Australian Open runner-up Thiem reached a career high of three in the world, knocking Federer down a spot.

The 26-year-old Austrian didn’t play last week but he went past Federer when the Swiss star was unable to defend his points gained by winning the Dubai title last year.

Federer, 38, has undergone knee surgery and is not expected back on tour until the grass court season.

Djokovic, Nadal step up title chase

— Djokovic won his fifth Dubai title while Nadal swept to a third victory in Acapulco although both men still have some way to go to reach the all-time record.

Djokovic now stands on 79 career trophies and Nadal has 85.

Ivan Lendl won 94 while Federer has 103, six behind Jimmy Connors’ leading 109 titles.


Empty feeling on Nishikori return

— Former world number four Kei Nishikori makes his return to the sport for the first time since the US Open last year when he leads Japan in the Davis Cup qualifier at home to Ecuador this weekend.

However, due to fears over the coronavirus, the Friday-Saturday tie in Miki will be played behind closed doors.

Nishikori has been sidelined after undergoing elbow surgery.

Sabalenka dedicates win to later father

— Aryna Sabalenka won her sixth career title in Qatar by beating Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-3 and dedicated victory to her father Sergey who died in November.

“I just lost my dad in the pre-season and he was my biggest motivation, and I’m doing it for him,” said the 21-year-old from Belarus.

Clijsters steps up second comeback

— Four-time major winner Kim Clijsters steps up her second comeback by playing on a wildcard at Monterrey this week.

The 36-year-old played her first match in over seven years in Dubai last month where she was defeated by Garbine Muguruza.



Still unranked, Clijsters has been drawn to face second seed Johanna Konta in the first round in Mexico.

“I feel like with the tennis that I’ve been playing, I’m improving,” she told wtatennis.com.

“I still have a good level in me. I’m still at the stage where I feel like I need match rhythm.”

Latest rankings:


ATP

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,220 points, 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,850, 3. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 7,045 (+1), 4. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,630 (-1), 5. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,890, 6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,745, 7, Alexander Zverev (GER) 3,630, 8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,860, 9. Gael Monfils (FRA) 2,860, 10. David Goffin (BEL) 2,555

WTA

1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 8,717 points, 2. Simona Halep (ROU) 6,076, 3. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,205, 4. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 4,555, 5. Sofia Kenin (USA) 4,365, 6. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,335, 7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,301, 8. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 4,010 (+1), 9. Serena Williams (USA) 3,915 (-1), 10. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 3,625

source: sports.inquirer.net

Nishikori falters against Chung in all-Asian match in Paris

PARIS — Hyeon Chung fought back from two sets down against Kei Nishikori to keep alive his bid to become the first South Korean to reach the fourth round of the French Open.

Nishikori was leading 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 0-3 when rain stopped play on Saturday. The match will resume Sunday.

It is the first time in the Open era two Asian men have met as late as the third round in a Grand Slam tournament.

Chung has never beaten a top-10 player in six attempts.

But he was making the eighth-seeded Nishikori, the first Asian man to contest a Grand Slam final at the 2014 U.S. Open, look ordinary.

Nishikori had to save a set point in the first set. In the second, the Japanese star appeared to have problems with the same right wrist he had treatment on in his second-round win over Jeremy Chardy. But he prevailed, and appeared on course for a straight-sets victory in his first meeting with Chung.

However, Chung took the third set in a tiebreaker, bringing up set point with a backhand down the line and clinching it when Nishikori hit long.

Chung broke twice at the start of the fourth set, prompting Nishikori to hurl his racket to the clay in disgust, and breaking it.

Nishikori had treatment on his back, and shortly after the rain started.

Chung began playing tennis with his parents at 6, and continued when a doctor recommended that looking at the color green helped his weak eyesight. ATP players voted him the most improved player in 2015.

In April, he reached the Barcelona quarterfinals as a qualifier, and in May he made his first ATP semifinals in Munich.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Davis Cup: Murray wins in 5 sets, Britain beats Japan

BIRMINGHAM, England — Once again, Britain had Andy Murray to thank for a victory in the Davis Cup.

Murray recovered from squandering a two-set lead to beat Kei Nishikori and give the defending champions a 3-1 win over Japan in the first round on Sunday.

Murray won 7-5, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 for his 14th straight victory in the Davis Cup, digging deep in his third match in as many days. This was the second-ranked Murray’s first event after five weeks off, during which he became a father for the first time.

“He is a man of steel, isn’t he?” Britain captain Leon Smith said of Murray.

“He is amazing. It is a privilege to sit there with him, and we will remember that for a long time.”

Britain will play a quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic’s Serbia in July, continuing the defense of a title it won for the first time in 79 years. Serbia defeated Kazakhstan 3-2.

The grueling contest between Murray and the sixth-ranked Nishikori lasted almost five hours and featured many memorable rallies. Murray appeared to be struggling physically during the third and fourth sets, but found some energy for the fifth set.

“The crowd helped, for sure,” said Murray, whose last action before this Davis Cup match was a loss in the Australian Open final to Djokovic on Jan. 31.

Murray preserved his record of having lost only once in his career from two sets up — in 2005 against David Nalbandian at Wimbledon when Murray was aged 18.

It was Nishikori’s first loss in 13 Davis Cup matches, a streak stretching back four years.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Kei Nishikori wins Japan Open

TOKYO — Kei Nishikori won the Japan Open title for the second time in three years on Sunday as he defeated Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4 in the final.

US Open finalist Nishikori added the trophy to one he also took over the Canadian in 2012 at the Ariake Colosseum. Play was held under the closed roof of the venue as rains from an approaching typhoon fell.

The title was the second is as many weeks for top Japanese player Nishikori, who also won in Kuala Lumpur last weekend.

It was the fourth time this season the pair have played, with Nishikori winning three of the encounters.

source: sports.inquirer.net