Atlanta Open: Nishikori continues comeback with win over Shang, making first quarter-final since 2021
Kei Nishikori beat Juncheng Shang 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Friday night and will play American Taylor Fritz, the top seed, in the next round
Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic
Japanese Kei Nishikori reached the quarter-finals of the Atlanta Open by beating Chinese qualifier Juncheng Shang 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Friday night.
The win was a significant one for Nishikori, in what is the former world No 4’s first ATP-level event since Indian Wells in 2021. Backing up his 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) win over Australian Jordan Thompson, the 33-year-old will now face American Taylor Fritz, the top seed, next.
Nishikori had been absent from the Tour due to surgery on his hip, which required bones to be trimmed in order to allow the Japan-native to play tennis without constant pain. Right now, Nishikori is ranked No 439 in the world, and faces a steep uphill climb if he’s to crack the world’s top 10 again.
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