Kei Nishikori tumbles over Lukas Rosol to secure a place in round four – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
Seeded 16th in this Masters 1000 event, Kei Nishikori got the better of the Czech star, Lukas Rosol, in straight sets at the Sony Ericsson Open 2012 on Sunday night. He summed up a 6-4, 6-2 victory over the world number 83 in the third round at
this hard card event taking place in Miami, United States.
Nishikori displayed tremendous skills to oust the Czech ace in their first meeting. After earning the spotlight in this one hour and nine-minute duel, the Japanese not only advanced into the round of 16 but also inched closer to conquer his second ATP (Association
of Tennis Professionals) career title.
The Japanese number one high-spiritedly entered the Miami courts and drew the first blood in the third game, eventually cruising to a 3-1 lead. He then slid remaining serves without facing any breakpoint and pocketed the opener with a 6-4 score line.
After Rosol held his serve in the opening game of the proceeding set, the 22-year-old went on a five-game rampage to leap to a 5-1 lead. Later, Nishikori kept his serve once more and sealed the set by winning six games to two.
Summing up the Japanese’s performance in the epic duel, Nishikori formulated a slightly higher first serve share of 61 per cent in contrast with the Czech’s 60 per cent and tremendously availed 22 out of 28 points on it. He spilled more double faults but
ended the deal by clinching 57 points.
Next challenge for Nishikori is the last year’s runner-up and the world number two, Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard broke Radek Stepanek’s serve four times and kept entire serves to clobber an assuring 6-2, 6-2 success.
The seventh seed, Tomas Berdych, faced a different fate. He suffered a 3-6, 6-2, 4-6 loss at the hands of the world number 101, Grigor Dimitrov, in two hours and 15 minutes. The Czech number one saved three out of five breakpoints he faced but capitalised
on two out of seven break opportunities, ultimately enduring a disappointing defeat.
The highly enthusiastic Bulgarian on the other side of net advanced to confront the world number nine, Janko Tipsarevic.
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