Kei Nishikori, Stanislas Wawrinka move to quarterfinals – Copa Claro 2012
Kei Nishikori beats Victor Hanescu 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
Fourth seed Kei Nishikori fought back after losing the first set, beating World Number 93 Victor Hanescu in three sets 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the second round at the Copa Claro in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. The Japanese needed two hours and 13 minutes to post
the win over Hanescu.
Nishikori did not have a good start, as he lost first three games to trail 0-3. The right-hander failed to make a comeback and dropped the set 3-6.
The Japanese was in more trouble as he went down 0-2 in the second set. Nishikori clawed his way back into the match, levelling the score 2-2. Both players held their serve in the next seven games to take the score 6-5 in favour of the Japanese. Hanescu
dropped his serve in the 12th game, losing the set 5-7.
Nishikori made his opponent’s life difficult in the decider, allowing the Romanian to win only one game and grabbing the set 6-1.
The Japanese had said, after winning his first round match, “I am not really used it (clay), but I’m trying to play good on clay. I’m feeling really confident. I am playing well this year and trying to improve my ranking (No. 17). If I keep playing like
this I have some chance to get to the top.”
Nishikori is drawn to face Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in the quarterfinals.
Stanislas Wawrinka defeats Benoit Paire 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
Sixth seed Stanislas Wawrinka survived a scare in the second set, as he rallied past World Number 98 Benoit Paire in three sets 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to get into the last eight. The Swiss took an hour and 44 minutes to win the match.
Paire drew first blood, breaking Wawrinka in the third game of the opener to go ahead 2-1. However, the Swiss broke back immediately to equalise the score at 2-2. The Swiss captured last three games to seal the set 6-3.
Wawrinka snatched a break of serve in the third game of the second set but failed to serve it out in the tenth game, squaring off the score 5-5. The Swiss was broken again in the 12th game, losing the set 5-7.
The 6ft tall, Wawrinka, took an early lead in the final set, moving ahead 2-0. The Swiss won Paire’s serve again in the seventh game and capitalised on the double break to claim the set 6-2. Wawrinka fired four aces and 71 percent of the first serve in the
match.
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