By Chris Oddo | Saturday February 4, 2018
Kei Nishikori returned to the winner's circle for the first time since 2016 by winning the Dallas Challenger title on Saturday night.
Kei Nishikori claimed his first title in over two years by winning the RBC Tennis Championships of Dallas with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Mackenzie McDonald.
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Nishikori, out since last August due to a torn tendon in his wrist, is playing just his second Challenger event and carries and ATP ranking of 27. He elected to rehab the injury, rather than having surgery.
The 28-year-old had a run of 21 consecutive majors played snapped last year when he missed the U.S. Open. He originally intended to return for the Australian Open but was unable to progress his rehab rapidly enough.
Nishikori dropped only one set in the second round to Germany’s Matthias Bachinger, and he improved his game incrementally as the week wore on. He saved all four break points he faced against McDonald and broke serve three times on ten opportunities.
Nishikori will next appear at the inaugural New York Open, which takes place in Long Island from February 11-18.