Kei Nishikori bounces over Albert Ramos to enter quarters – Proton Malaysian Open 2012
Seeded third in this event, Kei Nishikori from Japan, made an epic comeback from a set down to outmuscle the Spanish contender, Albert Ramos, in a three-set mouth-watering match at the Proton Malaysian Open 2012 on Thursday. He juggled up a 6-7(5), 6-2,
6-1 victory against the 24-year-old to book a spot in the final eight at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
The Asian number one found his rhythm after losing the opening set. He eventually dumped Ramos with a breadstick in two hours and 12 minutes. As a result, Nishikori improved to a 3-0 lifetime in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2
Head Series against the world number 48 and progressed into the last eight.
The 24-year-old made a comfortably entry at this ATP World Tour 250 Series event. He smoothly plucked his entire serves without facing any hindrance. Despite failing to seek any break opportunity, Nishikori dominated in the tie-breaker and closed out the
opener with a 7-6(5) success.
Nishikori found the right path in the proceeding set. He failed to block the lone breakpoint he came across in the third game and went 1-2 down. However, the Japanese unleashed flurry of groundstrokes and wiped out the following five games in a row.
Ranked 17th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Nishikori went out of control in the final set. He winded up five games in a row before the Spaniard could hold on. The Japanese star then swiped his serve once again and pulled
out the decider with a breadstick.
All in all, the Japanese number one produced a lower first serve share of 47 per cent as compared to his rival’s 61 per cent but impressively clicked 31 out of 43 points on it.
After dominating in this two hours and 12-minute marathon, Nishikori set up a date with the Russian challenger, Nikolay Davydenko.
“They are both good base line players. I lost to Nishikori in the Olympics and I would like to meet him again,” said the 31-year-old Russian after overpowering his opponent, Denis Istomin.
The world number 44 Davydenko needed one hour and 41 minutes to triumph over the Uzbekistani number one for second straight time.
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