KEI NISHIKORI BEATS JOHN ISNER AND PHILIPP KOHLSCHREIBER CAPTURE TITLES BEFORE U.S. OPEN TENNIS 2015 SERIES RESUMES

Written by: Staff on 9th August 2015

KEI NISHIKORI BEATS JOHN ISNER AND PHILIPP KOHLSCHREIBER CAPTURE TITLES BEFORE U.S. OPEN TENNIS 2015 SERIES RESUMES

Japan's Kei Nishikori (L) celebrates after defeating USA's John Isner (R) during the finals at the Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, DC, USA, 09 August 2015. EPA/SHAWN THEW |

By Ricky Dimon

Kei Nishikori captured the 10th title of his career with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over John Isner in the Citi Open final on Sunday afternoon. Nishikori won 29 of 30 first-serve points during the last two sets, did not face a single break point in that span, and triumphed after one hour and 54 minutes.

Looking for his first Washington, D.C. title in his third final at the event, Isner got off to a strong start. The 6’10” American crushed a flurry of big returns to break serve when it mattered most, at 5-4 in the opening frame of play.

But Nishikori was impenetrable thereafter. The world No. 5 got the best of his opponent’s serve once in each of the remaining sets and that proved to be enough.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori in action against USA’s John Isner during the finals at the Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, DC, USA, 09 August 2015. EPA/SHAWN THEW

“I didn’t make enough inroads on his first serve,” Isner lamented. “He’s arguably the best in the best in the world from the baseline. It’s tough. I thought he served better in the second and third sets. He’s a great player and a great champion.”

The eighth seed made another memorable run to the title match, most notably outlasting compatriot Steve Johnson 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(9) in a thrilling semifinal during which both players had multiple match points. In 2007, Isner won five consecutive matches in third-set tiebreakers before falling to Andy Roddick.

“Getting to the final of an event like this three times is something to be proud of,” he assured.

Like Nishikori, Philipp Kohlschreiber also recovered from a set deficit to lift a winner’s trophy. Kohlschreiber overcame Paul-Henri Mathieu 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 to prevail at the Generali Open on Saturday.

“I’m very happy with the result,” the German commented. “I want to enjoy this win. I’m very happy that I won the tournament; it doesn’t happen too often in a career. I spend a lot of time here in Kitzbühel. I know the people and everybody is very friendly.”

Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany poses with the trophy during the award ceremony after winning against Paul-Henri Mathieu of France in the final match for the Generali Open tennis tournament in Kitzbuehel, Austria, 08 August 2015. EPA/HELMUT FOHRINGER

Kohlschreiber actually resides in Kitzbühel and he rode his bike from home to the tennis center every day this week.

Briefs

* Nishikori passes Wawrinka for No. 5 with Washington, D.C. title

* Isner soars to No. 12 despite final loss to Nishikori

* Johnson climbs to 43rd thanks to semifinal showing

* Groth makes a move to No. 53 by reaching quarterfinals

* Berankis jumps double digits to 75th with Washington, D.C. quarterfinal

* Zverev back into top 90 with quarterfinal run

* Kohlschreiber surges 11 spots to 28th after title in Kitzbuhel

* Mathieu skyrockets into top 800 at No. 80 despite loss to Kohlschreiber

* Thiem finally loses, but semifinal propels him to career-high 17th

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Citi Open, Generali Open, John Isner, Kei Nishikori, Kitzbühel, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Washington D.C.

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10sBalls_com says:

August 9, 2015 at 8:03 pm

-@keinishikori BEATS @JohnIsner AND PHILIPP KOHLSCHREIBER CAPTURE TITLES BEFORE @usopen #tennis 2015 SERIES RESUMES- http://t.co/MlUN3TuaoG