Kei Nishikori reflects on French Open win over Jo Wilfried Tsonga
Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori admitted it wasn't easy playing against former world No 5 and home favorite Jo Wilfried Tsonga in the French Open second round.
Nishikori, ranked at No. 7 in the world, managed to hold off the Frenchman as came from a set down to clinch a four-set win 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 in just over three hours of action.
"It was a really tough match, as (Tsonga) is not your normal second-round opponent," Nishikori said post-match, per Kyodo News.
Tsonga got broken in the seventh game of the first set but then broke the Japanese twice in a row to win the opener.
However, Nishikori kept his focus as he broke the Frenchman in the opening game of the second set and then hold on to his serve to make it all tied at one set apiece.
The Japanese then recovered from a 2-0 third-set deficit and a 3-0 four-set deficit respectively to set third-round meeting against rising Serbian star Laslo Djere.
"Coming back from 3-0 in the fourth set was big. I got through by really focusing on my return game and playing my own style of tennis," Nishikori added.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2KbvwtC
No comments