Comeback In Style: Nishikori Wins First ATP-Level Match Since October 2021

| by Evita Mueller

Kei Nishikori is back on the ATP Tour, and he won his opening match in style, beating Jordan Thompson at the 2023 Atlanta Open in two sets.

The Japanese player was away from the sport for a very long time due to injuries and surgery, and everything in between. He pushed back his comeback this year multiple times until he finally made it on the Challenger Tour recently.

It was a great return for Nishikori, who looked as good as he ever did, and he's only gotten better. He won one of those challenger events, with the Atlanta Open being his first ATP event back. It was a good return against a tricky player in Jordan Thompson.

The first set went to a tiebreak as neither player managed to find a breakthrough. Both were pretty solid on the first serve and a bit worse on the second. Thompson managed to save five break points while Nishikori saved one to set up the tiebreak.

2023 Atlanta Open ATP Prize Money & Points Overview
2023 Atlanta Open ATP Prize Money & Points Overview

In the tiebreak, it was the more experienced Japanese player who got the win 7-5. The second set was similar, eerily similar, as it finished with the same score. We saw the same thing happen once more, as both players were pretty good on the first serve and quite a bit worse on the second serve.

Nishikori was the player who had to save more break points as Thompson pushed heavily, but the Australian could never quite get it done. Even in the tiebreak, Thompson pushed and was up for much of it until the finish, which saw Nishikori turn it around and win the match 7-6(5), 7-6(5).

A great performance from the Japanese player who advances to the next round, where he will face either Ben Shelton or Juncheng Sheng. With the level he showed, he will be in contention against either one of those players.

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