SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Chris Oddo | Saturday, April 24, 2015

 
Kei Nishikori, Barcelona

Kei Nishikori avenged last year's loss to Martin Klizan at Roland Garros with a shining performance in Barcelona.

Photo Source: Barcelona Open

Kei Nishikori put forth a riveting performance at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Saturday, racing past Martin Klizan, 6-1, 6-2, to set up his second straight final appearance at the event.

Video: The Top 10 Worst Tennis Handshakes

He will face Pablo Andujar in Sunday's final. Andujar surprised third-seeded David Ferrer, 7-6 (6), 6-3, in the day's second semifinal.

Nishikori avenged a straight-sets defeat at the hands of the southpaw Klizan at Roland Garros last year by blanketing the court in heavy conditions and ripping aggressive ground strokes that penetrated the court when he needed to.

He was particularly effective using his vaunted crosscourt backhand to defuse the Klizan forehand.

The world No. 5 notched a quick break in the opener and never looked back, though Klizan did have chances to make things more competitive. Opening up and walloping his forehand, Klizan earned two break points in the third game, but Nishikori’s defence stood tall on the ensuing points as he held for a 3-0 lead.

After falling behind 5-0, Klizan managed a hold and then saw four more opportunities to break go by the wayside, as Nishikori finished off the set by exterminating a long rally with a perfectly placed backhand slice that wrong-footed Klizan and landed for a winner.

Klizan, ranked two spots off his career-high at 28, would hold for 1-0 in set two, but Nishikori would quickly reel off the next five games to put things out of reach. Japan’s No. 1 fittingly closed with a backhand crosscourt winner to finish the deal in one hour and 18 minutes.

Nishikori hit 25 winners against 15 unforced errors, while Klizan hit 15 winners against 22 unforced errors.


 

Latest News