Kei Nishikori wins his first medal in Rio!
The Japanese no.1 won a 3 set battle against a rejuvenated Nadal in Rio. Things looked rather smooth for Kei after he was leading 6-2 5-2 (and two breaks up), but Nadal never gives up. The Spaniard fought back big time to level the score and win the second set at the breaker. Nishikori seemed to be drained, but eventually he found his way in the decider after he grabbed the decisive break in the 4th game (3-1) before winning the match 6-2 6-7 (1) 6-3.
I got a bit tired. NISHIKORI
After the match, the Japanese commented
“I didn’t know what to do from 5-2, I got a little bit tired, and he started playing better. For sure I was rushing to win in the last couple of points.
I tried to refresh my mind in the third set. I knew that I wasn’t stepping in. As soon as I got the break, I started to play aggressive, and I played with confidence.”
This is the first medal that a Japanese player has won in tennis in the last 96 years since Antwerp 1920.
That feeling!!!https://t.co/Wv9PNgfSoY pic.twitter.com/oQKT53d9zA
— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) August 15, 2016
THE DRAW |
FINALLY A MEDAL! |