Brisbane International – Kei Nishikori Notches To 100th Win

(Original Story From ATP: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/01/1/Brisbane-2013-Monday-Nishikori-Baghdatis-Matosevic.aspx)

Fifth seed Kei Nishikori earned a belated 23rd birthday present on Monday as he notched the 100th match win of his career by defeating Australian No. 1 Marinko Matosevic 7-5, 6-2 to open his Brisbane International campaign. The Japanese player turned 23 two days ago.

Nishikori saved four of the five break points he faced and capitalised on a second serve percentage of 39 percent from the No. 49-ranked Matosevic to claim victory in one hour and 42 minutes. He earned a clash with either Spain’s Tommy Robredo or American qualifier Ryan Harrison.

Sixth-seeded German Florian Mayer became the first player of the 2013 ATP World Tour season to record a match win in singles main draw action as he defeated Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-4. Mayer won 82 per cent of his service points and capitalised on his two break point opportunities.

The 28th-ranked Mayer is making his third straight appearance in Brisbane. He reached the quarter-finals in 2011, falling to Czech Radek Stepanek.

Mayer goes onto face Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who broke serve twice and won 85 percent of his first-serve points to defeat Australian wild card Benjamin Mitchell, 6-4, 6-4 in 77 minutes. Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open runner-up, is making his fifth appearance in Brisbane.

Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen earned a second-round clash with fourth-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov after defeating France’s Julien Benneteau 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in one hour and 44 minutes. Nieminen improved to a 6-0 record against Benneteau.

Brisbane native John Millman, currently ranked No. 199, secured his place in the main draw with a 6-4, 6-2 win over American Donald Young. He could play top seed and defending champion Andy Murray in the second round, should he overcome Tatsuma Ito.

“I beat [Alex] Bogomolov, Jr. yesterday and Donald Young today to get into the tournament. Both of them in 2012 were Top 40 in the world, so I think I’ve got to be proud of my efforts,” he said. “But the way I’m playing, I really can’t be satisfied with just making tournament. I would like to win a few more matches.”

Ryan Harrison, Jesse Levine and Denis Kudla also won in the final round of qualifying.