Kei Nishikori stuns Stefanos Tsitsipas in Montreal, notches rare top-20 win

08/08/2024 03:23 PM

Seventeen years after debuting in Montreal, Kei Nishikori is still capable of notching notable triumphs. The Japanese stunned world no. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in the second round, earning his first top-20 victory since the Tokyo Olympics three years ago! Ranked 576th, Kei is the third lowest-ranked player in the third round at the Masters 1000 series, stopping the clock at 34 and reminding everyone of his old form. Tsitsipas came to Montreal after losing in the Olympic Games quarter-final to Novak Djokovic. The Greek struggled to impose his strokes, sending his father out from the stands and showing signs of frustration. Tsitsipas fired nine aces and played well behind the first serve, although Nishikori outplayed those numbers. World no. 11 struggled behind the second serve, facing four break points and giving serve away three times. Kei defended two out of three break points, taking four points more than his rival and emerging at the top for his best Masters 1000 result since Rome 2021.

They stayed neck and neck in the shortest and most advanced exchanges. Nishikori built a slight advantage in the mid-range rallies, prevailing in those pivotal moments and moving into the third round. The Japanese made a reliable start, serving well and delivering a break in the third game after the Greek's slice error. Not feeling the ball, Stefanos sprayed a backhand mistake in the fifth game, offering Kei another break chance. Tsitsipas placed another backhand long, losing serve for the second straight time and falling 4-1 behind. The Japanese held at love for 5-1 and served for the opener at 5-3. Stefanos pulled one break back and held in the next one, reducing the deficit to 5-4 and extending the battle. Nishikori served for the set for the second time in the tenth game and netted a routine forehand, offering Tsitsipas two break chances.

The Japanese kept his composure and denied them, earning a set point after the Greek's loose backhand and seizing it for 6-4 after 37 minutes. The lower-ranked player produced five comfortable holds in the second set, keeping the pressure on the other side. Stefanos hit a wild forehand in the third game, losing serve and falling a set and break down. Kei cemented the advantage with a hold in game four and drew the rival's mistake two games later for 4-2. Tsitsipas saved a break point in the seventh game, staying within one break deficit but generating no pace on the return. Kei caused Stefanos' mistake in the eighth game, opening a 5-3 gap and serving for the win at 5-4. Nishikori attacked at 30-30 and earned a match point with a forehand winner. The Japanese converted it after the Greek's mistake, moving over the top and embracing his finest win in three years.