Sawt Falasteen - Resurgent Kei Nishikori reaches first final in six years

NYSE - LSE

CMSC	-0.14%	20.96	$
RBGPF	-0.99%	70	$
NGG	-1.33%	78.11	$
BP	-0.85%	44.095	$
BTI	-0.55%	55.615	$
GSK	-0.56%	50.38	$
BCE	-0.17%	23.37	$
RIO	0.8%	102.68	$
AZN	-0.54%	161.595	$
JRI	-0.62%	12.095	$
RYCEF	-0.25%	19.75	$
BCC	1.15%	76.72	$
RELX	-1.36%	35.22	$
CMSD	0.05%	20.79	$
VOD	0.09%	16.065	$

Resurgent Kei Nishikori reaches first final in six years / Photo: Hector RETAMAL - AFP

Resurgent Kei Nishikori reaches first final in six years

SPORTS 04.01.2025

Injury-ravaged Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori reached his first final in six years when China's Shang Juncheng retired ill at the Hong Kong Open on Saturday.

Text size:

The 35-year-old Nishikori, who reached a career-high four in the world a decade ago and was a US Open finalist in 2014, was 4-3 up when Shang called it quits in their semifinal.

The 19-year-old has been suffering with a fever.

Nishikori, who was the first Grand Slam men's singles finalist from Asia, faces France's Alexandre Muller for the title on Sunday.

It is the Japanese player's 27th tour-level final but first since winning in Brisbane in 2019.

Nishikori has emerged from years of injuries, including major hip surgery, to roll back the years in Hong Kong.

A wildcard at the tournament, he beat third-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov, Britain's Cam Norrie and Denis Shapovalov on the way to the last four.

The Japanese player will return to the top 100 for the first time since June 2022 on Monday.

Nishikori is a 12-time ATP winner and a 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medallist.

N.AbuHussein--SF-PST

Sawt Falasteen - Resurgent Kei Nishikori reaches first final in six years

Resurgent Kei Nishikori reaches first final in six years

Featured

Fury hits out at 'coward' Joshua as 'Battle of Britain' talks go on

Michelson shocks Nakashima in US Open clash of rising Americans

Third-ranked Pegula, Medvedev power into US Open third round

Davis-Woodhall a doubt for Ultimate Championship after car crash