Seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori opened up his 2016 Australian Open campaign on a successful note. The Japanese number one dispatched German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. A tricky first round match as world number 34 Kohlschreiber is a formidable opponent, use to big match scenarios.

Nishikori showed professionalism as he always does by consistently outplaying his opponent. The Japanese player made Kohlschreiber work hard for every point by moving him around the baseline. Hitting 35 winners and committing 21 unforced errors, the world number seven kept his head in front the entire match. The German committed a high 31 unforced errors while getting no break point opportunities the entire match. The difference was Nishikori's efficient four of eight break point conversion.

Nishikori Starts Off Well

Both players looked focused and ready to go as preceding got under way. As the match started, the world number seven started to show his trade mark backhand off with cross court combinations. Both players ended up holding multiple times. Nishikori got things to 4-3 on serve. The German hit a good serve and came up with an impressive forehand winner down the line to get his service game to 30-30 a piece. He stayed tough to keep the match on serve at four-all.

The seventh seed started getting into a rhythm as the match went on. A moment of artistry was shown as he hit a precise drop shot that drew an error from his opponent. Nishikori held for 5-4 in the first set. His return performance was on point as he focused on closing the set out. The German got broken to give the first set to Nishikori, 6-4. A set wrapped up in 34 minutes.

Nishikori On A Roll

Off a great break to close out the first set, Nishikori kept momentum going as he served to start out the second set. On ad, the seventh seed hit a forehand winner to go up 1-0. The German held his composure on an ad-out break point to remain on serve. The world number seven kept the variety up and showed versatility on a 30-all point at 2-1 as he crept up to the net off the return to hit a net volley winner. On the next point, he hit a big return to draw a backhand error from the world number 34 to get the break and go up a commanding 3-1 in the set. 

Nishikori showed off a serve and volley combo to win a service game at ease by love for a 5-2 lead. At 5-3 AD-in he hit an accurate inside out forehand to take the set 6-3 in 47 minutes.

Seventh Seed Moves On

Nishikori speaks candidly in his post match press conference. (Photo Courtesy of: Rick Rycroft)
Nishikori speaks candidly in his post match press conference. (Photo Courtesy of: Rick Rycroft)

As the third set got under way momentum was clearly in favor of Nishikori. The top 10 player was playing at an extremely high level as he played with seemingly no nerves. The German struggled to find answers but stayed determined to stay in the match. The Japanese player hit a pair of passing shots in the beginning of the set to keep his opponent weary from playing his usual style of tennis. 

An important play at 3-1, 40-30 was executed as Nishikori used a kick serve to draw his opponent off court and then proceeded to hit a blistering cross-court forehand for the game. The world number 34 stayed in and continued to play gutsy tennis, asking the question of Nishikori in his closing out efforts.

Nishikori hit a great winner at 30-0 and then an ace down the tee to stay up 4-2.  As the match went on, the Japanese number one showed more ferocity than usual as he made positive gestures and fist pumps after winning several points. A service winner got the seventh seed in position to win the match up 5-3 on return.

Kohlschreiber was unable to lengthen the match as he went down a match point on his serve at 15-40. That was all she wrote as the seventh seed finished matters with a forehand winner directly off the serve. The set was wrapped up quickly in 34 minutes as Nishikori booked his place and moves on to the second round.

VAVEL Logo
About the author