By Erik Gudris | Wednesday, February 10, 2016

 

Three-time defending Memphis Open champion Kei Nishikori started his title defense with an opening round win over Ryan Harrison.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

It’s fourteen wins and counting for Japan’s Kei Nishikori in Memphis.

The top seed and three-time defending champion started his Memphis Open title defense on Wednesday night. Nishikori faced off against a familiar second round opponent in Ryan Harrison.

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Last year in the same round, Harrison forced Nishikori to come back and win in three sets. Though fans may have been hoping for a similiar drama, it didn’t quite turn out that way.

Nishikori took control early in the first set. With solid hitting from the backcourt, Nishikori broke Harrison’s serve twice and didn’t look back. Nishikori, who didn’t face a break point, wrapped up the set 6-2.

Harrison got off to a better start in the second set and kept things close for 2-all. But Nishikori upped the pressure in the next game. A deep return from the top seed forced a Harrison error on break point. That gave Nishikori a 3-2 lead.

After nearly an hour, Nishikori served for the match up 5-4. Yet, that would prove trickier for him to pull off.

Nishikori let two early match points slip away, one with a double fault. Harrison battled back and soon held his first break point. Nishikori saved that with a forehand winner.

A multiple deuce game ensured with Nishkori holding two more match points. But Harrison would again deny both of them and later create a fourth break point chance for himself.

Harrison finally broke when he forced a Nishikori volley errror for 5-all.

Harrison’s advantage proved short-lived however. Nishikori again wore down Harrison from the baseline and secured yet another service break.

Nishikori would not waver in his second chance to serve out the match. He soon went up 40-0 in the next game and finished it off with a smash winner. That earned Nishikori the 6-2, 7-5 win for his 14th straight victory at the event.

Nishikori is aiming to return to the ATP top five. He hopes another title run in Memphis will get him there.

"I'm really looking forward to playing," Nishikori said to ATP.com "This is one of my favourite tournaments, winning three years in a row, and I hope to win another one this year. I will try to play one match at a time and concentrate in order to play good tennis. I know it isn't easy, but I have great confidence playing here and I like to spend time in Memphis. I will try to enjoy this week.”

Nishikori will face Mikhail Kukushkin in the next round.