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By Chris Oddo | Sunday February 14, 2016

 
Nishikori Tennis Now

Kei Nishkori ended the magical run of Taylor Fritz and marched to his fourth straight Memphis Open title.

Photo Source: Tennis TV

Kei Nishikori became the first man in history to complete the Memphis four-peat by taking down a rising American who lifted the hopes of American fans all week.

More: Klizan Completes Improbable Run in Rotterdam

Nishikori’s 6-4, 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz snuffed out the 18-year-old’s hopes of sending shockwaves through the tennis world from the U.S. to Tokyo, but the world No. 145 acquitted himself nicely against the player who has owned the hard courts at the Racquet Club of Memphis since 2013.

Nishikori, who has now won 17 consecutive matches at the event, joins Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as one of four active players to complete a four-peat at the same event.

Despite the loss, Fritz becomes the youngest American to reach an ATP final since 1989, and he reached his first ATP final in just his third event, faster than nine of the ATP’s current top-10 (only David Ferrer did it quicker).

Nishikori started slowly and was broken in the second game before falling behind 3-0, but he quickly rallied to level and ended up winning five of six games to close the set.

Fritz hung tough in the second set but Nishikori nabbed a break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. The 18-year-old, who was ranked in the high 600’s just five months ago, showed grit in saving two championship points while serving at 3-5 to hold, but Nishikori stayed the course and held serve in the next game to clinch his 11th ATP title.


 

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