By Erik Gudris | Sunday, October 5, 2014
For Kei Nishikori, there was tension, tears, but ultimately, triumph as he celebrated winning his second Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championship title in Tokyo.
With a sold-old arena solidly rooting on the recent US Open finalist and national hero in Nishikori, his opponent, Milos Raonic of Canada probably felt like he was entering a Davis Cup match.
Raonic, into his his third straight Tokyo final, hoped his big serve would provide the answer he needed to win his first title there. The Canadian did have most of the answers with his big serve early on in the first set. Nishikori countered with solid returning and winning most of the baseline exchanges.
When the set entered a tiebreak, Nishikori used his return again to open up an early lead. Raonic would level things in the breaker but soon faced a set point on his serve at 5-6.
Nishikori, responding to a massive Raonic serve, somehow got his racquet on it to create a fine angle sending the ball just over the net. That set up a Nishikori forehand pass winner to give him the set 7-6(5).
Raonic didn't back down in the second set and soon started making inroads into Nishikori's own service games. An extended game at 3-all finally went in favor of the Canadian after Nishikori dumped a backhand into the net.
From there, Raonic sailed through the set and seized it 6-4.
The final set proved too close to call right up until the very end. Raonic showed off his improved net play by hitting an incredible volley to save a break point in the second game. Another net approach from the Canadian erased another break point against him and he soon held for 1-all.
With both men holding serve, it looked like another tiebreak loomed. Yet Nishikori appeared to find a last boost of energy just when he needed it.
At 5-4, with Raonic serving to stay in the match, things started going awry for the Canadian. Nishikori ripped a line-clipping backhand to give him 0-30. Raonic then sent a forehand long giving Nishikori three match points.
Raonic saved the first, yet would net a forehand in the next rally to end the contest. With that, Nishikori sealed the 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4 victory.
Showing not much emotion at first during the handshake, Nishikori became overwhelmed with tears as the local fans celebrated yet another milestone win for Japan's No. 1.
With his title win in Kuala Lumpur last week, Nishikori has now won back-to-back ATP titles for the first time in his career.
Raonic, during the trophy ceremony, masked his disappointment with some humor by saying, "Thank you to the tournament, but to be honest, I'm sick of being a finalist three years in a row."
Here's what Nishikori had to say afterwards.
With the win, Nishikori improves his chances to qualify for the upcoming ATP Tour Finals in London.
(Photo Credit: Getty)