Kei Nishikori overcomes second-set loss to battle past Jeremy Chardy in Paris Bercy - UBITENNIS

Kei Nishikori overcomes second-set loss to battle past Jeremy Chardy in Paris Bercy

By sampaolo
2 Min Read

Kei Nishikori battled past Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 to reach the third round of the BNP Paribas at the Accorhotel Arena in Paris Bercy where he will face Richard Gasquet.

Chardy saved two match points at 5-6 15-40 with an ace and a forehand winner before winning the second-set tie-break with 8-6 to force the match to the third set. In the decider Nishikori rallied from 0-1 by winning six consecutive games to take the win in two hours and 26 minutes. With this win the Japanese star has improved his winning record to 3-2 in his head-to-head matches against Chardy.

“It was a tough game against a dangerous opponent. His serve and forehands were good. Hopefully I can play better tennis. I reached the semifinals of this tournament last year and I want to enjoy myself”, said Nishikori.

Gasquet beat Leandro Mayer 6-2 7-5. The Frenchman, who reached the semifinal last week in Basel, converted three of his break point chances. Gasquet broke Mayer twice to close out the first set in 30 minutes. The second set went on serve until Gasquet converted a break point chance at 6-5 to seal the win.

Grigor Dimitrov overcame Marin Cilic after two tie-breaks with 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2). Neither Dimitrov nor Cilic managed to get a single break in the whole match. Cilic was not able to convert any of his ten break point chances. Dimitrov lost just five points in the two tie-breaks to claim his first win over Cilic who had won their only previous match in Brisbane with 7-5 7-5 in 2014. Dimitrov will face David Ferrer in the third round.

David Goffin cruised past Dusan Lajovic 6-2 6-2 in 57 minutes. In the third round Goffin could face Andy Murray if the Scotsman beats Borna Coric. Murray and Goffin could meet aagin at the Davis Cup Final between Belgium and Great Britain in Ghent.

 

Leave a comment