Nishikori Turns Again the Clock in Hong Kong, Reaches First Semifinal in 3.5 Years
Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 3, 2025
Kei Nishikori it rings in 2025 by turning again the clock. Former World No.4 reached ATP semi-final from 2021 in Hong Kong, misplaced Cameron Norrie 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to arrange a final 4 conflict with the 19-year-old Shang Juncheng (Jerry).
Shang defeated Fabian Marozsan, prime seed Andrey Rublev within the spherical of 16, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“It has been a very long time,” stated Nishikori, 35, after knocking out his third former High 10 expertise this week. “I’m very pleased with my degree, successful towards prime gamers. Bodily I really feel good.
It is by way of to the semi-finals pic.twitter.com/8ydxU2wCFo
— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) January 3, 2025
“I did not count on something coming into this match, I really feel no strain. I do know it is a very robust discipline. I took it one sport at a time and Jerry is a good participant, so I’ve to remain robust.”
Nishikori is ready to return to the High 100 for the primary time since October 2021 in subsequent week’s rankings. He had left hip surgical procedure in 2022, and has had dangerous luck holding his physique wholesome. But when he is match he can nonetheless stand out – and the motivation continues to be there.
“Sure, I am injured lots, however I by no means really feel like I am finished,” he stated final 12 months at Roland-Garros in Paris. “I by no means misplaced the motivation to come back again.”
Alexandre Muller defeated runner-up Arthur Fils within the semi-finals to arrange a semi-final with Jaume Munar, who upset runner-up Lorenzo Musetti. Not one of the prime gamers made it to the final 4 in Hong Kong.
