Nishikori Bounces Back In Buenos Aires

Top seed Kei Nishikori survived an inspired challenge from home favourite Diego Schwartzman to win in his first outing at the Argentina Open in five years on Wednesday. The Japanese World No. 5 in the Emirates ATP Rankings fought back to claim a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 result to advance to the quarter-finals.

Nishikori had won the Memphis Open title as top seed for the past three years but elected to change up his schedule to play in South American in 2017. Looking to transfer that good fortune as top seed to the clay in Buenos Aires, however, Nishikori found his run under serious pressure early on when his Argentine opponent, ranked No. 50 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, broke to take the opening set.

From 1-2 down in the second set, however, Nishikori found another gear. He reeled off 11 of the last 14 games to book a quarter-final clash with sixth seed Joao Sousa, of Portugal. Sousa ended the hopes of another local, Federico Delbonis, 7-5, 6-3.

Fourth seed Pablo Carreno-Busta and fifth seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas booked an all-Spanish quarter-final after their respective second-round wins. Carreno-Busta held off Italian qualifier Alessandro Giannessi 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the pair’s first ATP World Tour level match.

Carreno-Busta had won four previous meetings between the two at the Challenger level and in qualifying rounds. Ramos-Vinolas progressed when his opponent, Leonardo Mayer, of Argentina, retired when trailing 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 1-0 with a right leg injury.