In the first match on centre court at the Rogers Cup, Kei Nishikori scored a 6-3, 6-4 victory over American Rajeev Ram to book his spot in the quarterfinals.
Two late breaks enough for Nishikori
The match got off to a slow start from both players with Nishikori getting rid of the rustiness while Ram was hanging in there against the third seem. In the fifth game, the Japanese raced away to a love-40 lead. However, Ram saved all of them, won four points on the bounce and held serve to stay in front in the set. Two games later, Ram would be in a similar position of saving break points. This time just the one at 15-40. The American, ranked 114, failed to do so as his first serve failed him and Nishikori got the match's first break and was now serving for the set.
In the upcoming game, the 32-year-old then attacked Nishikori, came to the net and hit a short slice to gain his first break point of the match at 30-40. The world number six got a little help with a shanked forehand from Ram to save the point. Nishikori won the next two points and consolidated for 5-3. The 2014 US Open finalist hit a forehand winner on the Ram serve to reach set point. In the next point, Nishikori hit a quality return from Ram which was netted. The Japanese claimed the opening set and seemed to have got rid of any rustiness he was feeling in his match against Dennis Novikov in the previous round.
Japanese books spot in quarterfinal with late break
The third game of the second set would see Ram with three break points as he looked to get back into the match. The Japanese remained in control, stopped any momentum Ram was having in the game and won four straight points for a 2-1 lead. Throughout the remainder of the set, Nishikori was keeping errors to a minimum despite getting tested by Ram to produce the occasional special point.
With the set coming to a close, Ram was then tested when serving to stay in the match. Nishikori raced away to a love-40 lead on Ram's serve and clinched the point n his first match point to book his spot in round three. Up next is either Ivo Karlovic or Grigor Dimitrov. The 26-year-old won 80 percent of points on first serve and 64 percent behind his second serve. Nishikori saved all three break points faced and converted his first on match point.
Stats
Kei Nishikori produced five aces with Rajeev Ram producing six while no player served a double-fault. The Japanese won 80 percent of points behind his first serve and 64 behind his second with Ram winning 67 percent on his first and 48 percent on his second serve. The 32-year-old managed to save 50 percent of break points faced and converted zero from four. However, Nishikori saved all four he faced and converted three from six.