By Erik Gudris | Sunday, August 9, 2015
Kei Nishikori battled back from a set down to win his third ATP title this season in Washington, D.C. against John Isner.
Photo Credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The Citi Open in Washington, D.C. proved a fruitful stop for Kei Nishikori as he earned his third ATP title this season and with it a rankings boost back into the top four.
No. 2 seeded Nishikori faced off in Sunday's final against No. 8 seed John Isner. The American was hoping to claim his first ever title in D.C. having reached the final three times including in 2007 and 2013.
"I returned very well and important to have a winning first serve percentage," Nishikori said about his win. "It was also important to be more aggressive than when I played him in Miami. I think it was a great match for both of us."
Early on in the opening set, it looked like Isner might get his wish. A confident start from Isner saw him rip several big forehands along with his massive serve to hold for 2-1.
Both men traded and missed out on early break point chances midway through the set. With each also showing good touch up at net, a tiebreak looked possible.
That didn't happen in the tenth game when Isner pounced on a short Nishikori second serve and ripped a potent forehand return winner. That gave Isner a set point that he converted on with yet another blazing forehand return.
The second set opened with Nishikori now pressuring with his own returns against Isner's serve. With Isner not finding his spots in the service box, it allowed Nishikori to claim an early break to start. Nishikori began serving better while Isner himself, perhaps feeling the effect of his two-week long win streak that including winning Atlanta, took a medical time out to have a trainer work on his shoulder.
Nishikori took care of his own serve down the stretch and eventually closed out the set 6-4 on his second set point when Isner sent a forehand wide.
If Isner wanted to have a chance to win the third set and the title, he had to serve well and somehow pressure Nishikori's own. Nishikori didn't let that happen when in the third game he put on a return clinic as he sent back Isner's serve with precision and power each time.
Now holding a break point, Nishikori converted for a 2-1 lead when Isner netted a forehand.
At this stage, Isner started running out of opportunities. Not only was Nishikori serving better, he was also winning the bulk of the baseline exchanges.
Isner stayed in touch with Nishikori and trailed by only a game, but the American could never put together enough returns to manufacture a break point chance. Nishikori soon served for the title up 5-4.
Nishikori built up a 40-0 lead and soon held match point. A final rally allowed Nishikori to move foreward and knock off an easy backhand volley winner. With that, Nishikori celebrated the 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
"I just didn't make enough inroads on his first serve, and then from there he's arguably the best of the world from the baseline," Isner said later on the match. "And then he started serving better in the second and third sets. He's a great player and a great champion."
Washington, D.C. is now Nishikori's 10th career ATP title and his efforts this week will move him to No. 4 in the world. For his solid week, Isner will jump up to No. 12 in the ATP rankings.
In the men's doubles' final, Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Marcelo Melo and Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-2. The win gave the Bryans their fourth D.C. title and a career 108th ATP doubles crown.