Taro Daniel Serves Up a Thriller, Advances to Qualifying Finals, While Nishikori Sets Sights on Cilic in Electrifying Japan Open Showdown

The ATP500 “Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships” will be held at the Ariake Coliseum and the Ariake Tennis Forest Park courts from September 25th to October 1st (main tournament). The first round of singles and doubles qualifying matches was held on the 23rd.

Rei Sakamoto (IMG), who announced he would turn professional on the 20th of this month, participated as a wildcard but had a bitter debut, losing to eighth seed L. Nardi (Italy).

Photo by Rei Sakamoto / Isao Ito

Yasutaka Uchiyama (Sekisui Chemical), who had been competing in the ATP 250 in China until the previous day, was defeated by Andre Mikkelsen (USA), and Yosuke Watanuki (SBC Medical Group), who had just returned from injury, was defeated by Bruno van de Zanshoop (Netherlands).

Photos by Yasutaka Uchiyama and Isao Ito

Yosuke Watanuki Photo by Isao Ito

The only Japanese player to score a victory was Taro Daniel (Able), who defeated fourth seed Andy Kovacevic (USA) in a close match 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4).

Photo by Taro Daniel/Ito Isao

The draw for the main tournament was also held on the same day, with Yoshihito Nishioka (Miki House) facing A. Auger-Aliassime (Canada) and Shintaro Mochizuki (Kinoshita Group) facing U. Humbert (France).

Kei Nishikori (UNIQLO) will face M. Cilic (Croatia), the same match as in the 2014 US Open final.

Kei Nishikori shows off a splendid performance during the open practice. Photo by Isao Ito

Results for Monday, September 23rd
■Singles Qualifiers 1st Round■

○A. Mikkelsen (USA)[1] 6-3 6-4 ●Uchiyama Yasutaka (Sekisui Chemical Industry)[WC]
○B. Coric (Croatia) 6-3 6-4 ●D. Dzumur (Bosnia and Herzegovina)[7]
○B. van de Zansshoop (Netherlands)[2] 2-6 6-3 6-1 ●Yosuke Watanuki (SBC Medical Group)[WC]
○L. Nardi (Italy)[8] 6-3 6-1 ●Rei Sakamoto (IMG)[WC]
○M. Bellucci (Italy)[Alt] 4-6 6-2 7-6(3) ●A. Muller (France)[3]
○R. Hijikata (Australia)[6] 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 7-6(3) ●A. Vukic (Australia)
○Taro Daniel (Able) 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(4) ●A. Kovacevic (USA)[4]
○C. O’Connell (Australia)[5] 6-4 6-4 ●O. Virtanen (Finland)[Alt]

■Doubles Qualifiers 1st Round■

○N. Barrientos/S. Mansouri (Colombia/Tunisia)[1] 6-3 6-2 ●Shintaro Mochizuki/Takeshi Yuzuki (Kinoshita Group/Ikai)[WC]
A. Eller/M. Middelkoop (Austria/Netherlands)[2] 6-2 6-4 ●E. King/R. Stalder (USA)

Photo: Ito Isao