Yoshihito Nishioka became the sixth qualifier to win a tour-level title this season at the Shenzhen Open, beating Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 on Sunday.

The 23-year-old, appearing in his first ATP World Tour final, won 61 per cent of second-serve return points and withstood 12 aces from Herbert to lift his first tour-level trophy after two hours and 20 minutes. Nishioka, who tore his left ACL just 18 months ago at the 2017 Miami Open presented by Itaú, dropped seven straight games after leading 7-5, 2-0, but recovered well to record the biggest win of his career.

After Herbert’s strong fightback in the second set, both men were forced to work hard in their opening service games of the decider to remain level in the score. But Nishioka soon found a breakthrough in the fifth game. The qualifier opened up a 0/40 lead with strong play from the baseline, before earning the break with another aggressive backhand, forcing an error from Herbert at the net.

Three championship-point opportunities passed Nishioka by on Herbert’s serve at 5-3, but the Japanese qualifier did not falter on his own serve. Nishioka fell to the ground, after converting his fifth championship point, following Herbert’s netted forehand return.

Herbert was also bidding to lift his first tour-level singles title after a runner-up finish in his only previous championship match at the 2015 Winston-Salem Open. The 27-year-old has won 23 of 41 matches at tour-level this year.

Nishioka receives 250 ATP Ranking points and collects $130,885 in prize money for lifting the trophy. Herbert earns 150 ATP Ranking points and $68,930.

Qualifier Bernard Tomic saved four match points to capture his first ATP World Tour trophy in more than three years on Sunday at the Chengdu Open. The Australian, who played with great focus, also denied top seed Fabio Fognini a piece of Italian tennis history with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(7) victory over two hours and 15 minutes.

The 25-year-old Tomic, who recovered from 3/6 and 6/7 in the deciding set tie-break, dropped to the ground in celebration upon securing his first crown since July 2015 in Bogota (d. Mannarino). Now with a 4-2 record in ATP World Tour finals, he earned $190,885 and 250 ATP Rankings points. Fognini had been attempting to become the first Italian man to win four titles in a season.

World No. 123 Tomic had previously recovered from 0/3 in the deciding set tie-break against Egor Gerasimov in the qualifying round last weekend, 6-7(6), 1-3 in the first round against Bradley Klahn and he also saved one match point to beat Lloyd Harris in the second round on Wednesday.

“I should have lost five times,” said Tomic. “In the second round in qualifying to Gerasimov, I was down 0/40 at 4-4 in the third set and I somehow got through that match; against Klahn in the first round I was down 7-6, 3-1 and in the second round I was down a match point as well against Harris. It’s been a rollercoaster, but I played more aggressive in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. I don’t know how many match points I saved today.

“I haven’t won a title since Bogota in 2015. At 6/3 [in the tie-break] he struck a double fault, then the court began to get slippery. We both agreed to keep playing, but during my matches in qualifying and the first round it was slippery, so I began to stand ready for the return differently. It enabled me to return on the 6/4 point, then I got a lucky net cord winner on the next point.

“For me to win here is huge, one of the biggest [ATP World Tour] 250 tournaments in the world and it means that I’ll rise back up the ATP Rankings.”

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In a competitive start, Tomic, who was competing in his first final since February 2016 (Acapulco), recovered from 15/40 in his first service game. Fognini then let slip a 30/0 lead in his first service game, which ended with a double fault and soon failed to convert four break point chances in Tomic’s next service game. Three consecutive errors from Fognini handed Tomic a 5-1 advantage, prior to Tomic completing the 29-minute opener with his fifth ace of the match.

Tomic continued to dictate early in the second set, playing at his own pace, but persistence paid off for Fognini, who took a 3-1 lead when his opponent struck a sliced backhand wide down the line. While Fognini’s advantage was short lived, much to the Italian’s frustration, he did capitalise on a backhand error from Tomic to break for 5-3 and later saved two break points when serving for the set.

A loose game from Tomic handed Fognini the first game of the decider, but the Australian bounced back and took a 3-1 lead. Fognini recovered to 3-3, with four breaks of serve in the first five games, and later showcased tremendous feel to take control of the tie-break by opening up a 5/2 lead. Fognini saw four match points go begging at 6/3 and 7/6, before Tomic capitalised on a forehand error from Fognini for his first match point at 8/7. Tomic finished the match with a forehand winner.

“It was my time to be unlucky today,” said Fognini. “I’ve had a great run this year. It was a great week, but for sure I’m sad I lost the final after I had four match points. Well done to him. I fought until the end.”

With a 40-19 record in 2018, 31-year-old Fognini has won trophies at the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo (d. Jarry), the SkiStar Swedish Open in Bastad (d. Gasquet) and a first on hard courts at the Abierto de Tenis Mifel presentado por Cinemex in Los Cabos (d. Del Potro).

He leaves the city of Chengdu with $100,535 and 150 points. The Italian is currently in 11th position in the ATP Race To London – but is 1,405 points behind eighth-placed Kevin Anderson – for one of eight spots at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held at The O2 in London from 11-18 November.

Back at No. 12 in the ATP Rankings, it’s easy to forget that Kei Nishikori began his season on the comeback trail. The Japanese star’s 2017 campaign came to an end in August, after losing in his first match at Montreal due to a wrist injury.

But Nishikori has found his form again, advancing to the final on Monte-Carlo’s clay before reaching his first Wimbledon quarter-final and battling to the semi-finals of the US Open. The 28-year-old believes that his level is not far off from the tennis that carried him to a career-best World No. 4 in 2015.

“I think I’m right there,” Nishikori said on Sunday, ahead of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018. “Getting to the semi-final of the US Open, I have to be 100 per cent. So I think I’m back at a great level again. I just have to keep 100 per cent every tournament, every match, and just keep being positive, keep my confidence there, and just enjoy playing the matches.”

Nishikori had almost no confidence at all. He began his season playing two ATP Challenger Tour events to get matches in, and fell as low as World No. 39, his lowest placement in the ATP Rankings since October 2011.

“When I was playing the first couple tournaments, Challengers and [ATP World Tour] 250s, I was struggling, of course. I couldn’t feel the rhythm and didn’t have any confidence. I knew it was going to take some time,” Nishikori said. “It took a little while to get my confidence back, playing 100 per cent again. But finally I had some good results… I’m really happy with what I’m doing this year even though I had a tough first couple of months after coming back from injury. Now I’m playing pretty good tennis, a pretty good level again. So I’m really happy I’m back in shape again.”

The No. 3 seed is well-positioned to continue on his positive trajectory this week at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018. Nishikori has captured the title in Tokyo twice, and will certainly have the full support of the fans in Japan who will flock to the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza in droves to catch a glimpse of their top-ranked player.

“Many good players come for this tournament and I’m sure a lot of guys are cheering for me, supporting me this week,” said Nishikori, who faces compatriot Yuichi Sugita in the first round. “I always enjoy playing in Japan. It’s something special. It’s only once or twice, a couple times a year I get to play in Japan, so I always enjoy it. Unfortunately I have to play a Japanese guy in the first round, but I hope I can enjoy this whole week.”

And by enjoying it and continuing to gain more confidence, Nishikori will be one of the favourites to triumph here, as he pursues his first tour-level title since Memphis in 2016.

It has been a long road for Yoshihito Nishioka. Exactly one year ago, the 23-year-old was at home, steadily making progress with his rehab after suffering a torn ACL.

Nishioka details the process as quite grueling, forcing him to draw upon all his physical and emotional fortitude. But as arduous as it has been, each victory tastes that much sweeter. 

On Sunday, Nishioka will hope to cap the greatest week of his young career with a maiden ATP World Tour title. The margins couldn’t have been closer as he edged Fernando Verdasco in a deciding tie-break, reaching his first tour-level final at the Shenzhen Open.

“It has been 10 months since I returned, but I think that is actually quick to get to this point,” said Nishioka following his semi-final win. “I’m really happy for this. I never reached a final before I got injured, so I think my level is better than ever. It’s no surprise to me, but I do feel lucky to get here.”

Nishioka is bidding to not only become the 11th first-time winner on the ATP World Tour this year, but do so as a qualifier. Six wins in seven days, including impressive victories over an in-form Denis Kudla, Denis Shapovalov and Cameron Norrie, have put the Japanese on the precipice of his maiden title.

Just four months ago, Nishioka was sitting at No. 362 in the ATP Rankings when he triumphed at the ATP Challenger Tour stop in Gimcheon, Korea. Now, he is looking to add an even bigger piece of silverware to his collection in Shenzhen. And perhaps the greatest prize of all: victory would see him return to the Top 100 for the first time in 14 months.

How is Nishioka putting it all together and thriving once again? He draws inspiration from his idols. Like former World No. 1 Marcelo Rios, the 5’7″ Nishioka is also under 6-feet tall and he admits that he models his game after the Chilean legend. In an era of big-hitting giants, there is something to be said for the diminutive fighter who utilizes his agility as a major weapon.

“When I was younger, I watched Marcelo Rios. When I went to the United States, I was training all the time at Nick Bolletieri’s academy and he told me I have to watch more of Rios. He is around the same height as me and he got to World No. 1, so I think I can make it. I can run more than him too.

“And for sure Kei is the biggest reason why we [the Japanese players] are doing so well. He made it to No. 4 and he showed us that we can be like that. Also, he’s not the tallest player. Many Japanese players play the Challengers to get a higher ATP Ranking, but we also have to play more ATP tournaments and Kei has showed us it is possible.”

Unstoppable! ???

Japanese qualifier @yoshihitotennis beats Verdasco 1-6 6-3 7-6(5) to move into his first ever ATP final.#shenzhenopen pic.twitter.com/YR9gtxwzBY

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 29, 2018

On Sunday, Nishioka will square off against Pierre-Hugues Herbert for the Shenzhen title. A first-time winner will be guaranteed when the Japanese and the Frenchman take to Center Court. Regardless of what transpires, Nishioka relishing the moment. 

“I know he has a good serve and likes to come to the net many times. He’s playing very aggressive. I think it’s very important for me to return well tomorrow. If I’m doing that, maybe he will have pressure on his service games and get nervous and make mistakes. I just have to get pressure on him.

“I’m very excited for this moment. I was not thinking I could reach the final when I was in qualifying. But this is very exciting for me, to be in my first final. I know there will be pressure tomorrow, but I will try to do my best.”