Nishikori Overcomes Rain Delays, Moves Into Second Round
Nishikori Overcomes Rain Delays, Moves Into Second Round
Japanese looks for a deep run in Paris
It took two days and overcoming two rain delays, but Kei Nishikori earned his 50th Grand Slam win on Monday at Roland Garros. The fifth seed moved into the second round by fending off Italian veteran Simone Bolelli 6-1, 7-5, 6-3 in a continuation of their match that started on Sunday.
The Japanese erased three of four break points and hit 30 winners to advance in Paris. Nishikori is looking to surpass his career-best showing at Roland Garros, a quarter-finals appearance last year.
The 26 year old has experienced clay-court success, including two titles in Barcelona, but has yet to reach deep into the second week in Paris. The World No. 6 has reached past the second round only twice, last year and in 2013 when he made the fourth round.
Nishikori will face Andrey Kuznetsov in the second round. Kuznetsov, No. 40 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, beat German Benjamin Becker 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday. Nishikori was down 6-4, 3-1 when he retired from his only prior meeting against Kuznetsov, on grass at Eastbourne in 2010.