Nishikori’s Doubles Debut Ends in Disappointment: Can He Bounce Back Against Cilic in Singles Showdown

Tennis: Kinoshita ‌Group Japan​ Open ​- Men’s ‍Doubles and More

Kei Nishikori​ (34, UNIQLO) and Rei Sakamoto (18, IMG), who entered as wild⁣ cards, lost to the⁤ top-seeded pair⁤ of Nathaniel Lammons ‌and Jackson ⁤Withrow ​(USA) in the men’s doubles‍ at the⁤ Kinoshita Group Japan Open.

In the first set,⁢ Nishikori and Sakamoto allowed the first⁣ break but managed to⁢ break ⁢back in the seventh game. They took the tiebreaker and‍ won⁤ 7-6. However, in the second set, they were unable to break ​and lost 4-6, losing⁢ the match tiebreaker 6-10, resulting in a disappointing first-round defeat.

Nishikori is also scheduled to play in⁤ the​ men’s ‍singles. He​ will face former world No. 3‍ and 35-year-old Marin ‌Cilic (Croatia) in ‌the first round on the 26th.

In the first round of singles, Shintaro ⁣Mochizuki (21, Kinoshita Group), ranked 146th in the world, lost in straight sets to⁣ Hugo Humbert (France), ranked 19th in the world, 1-6, 2-6. The match between ‌Yoshihito Nishioka (Miki House) and Kaito Uesugi (Ezaki Glico) ​was postponed due to rain.

The Kinoshita Group‍ Japan Open, a men’s tennis tour event, will be broadcast ⁢live every day on‌ WOWOW and WOWOW on demand.⁣ The ‌first⁣ day of the tournament will be broadcast free of charge and streamed live for free.