Home star Nishikori earns opening win against Cilic in Tokyo

Former two-time champion Kei Nishikori is a match winner at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships once again.

Competing in Tokyo for the first time since 2018, the Japanese star overcome Hangzhou champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the second round at the ATP 500 event.

Nishikori returned from injury this year and made the quarter-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal in August. The former No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings now leads Cilic 10-6 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, but did lose their biggest meeting in the US Open final 10 years ago in 2014.

"There were a couple of special moments for me. Playing here here is special for me. I haven't played here in a long time," Nishikori said. "Playing Cilic is [special]. We have played many great matches and I know I have had a tough time in the past two years and I have been in the same situation. I was happy to play against Marin and very happy to win."

KEI NISHIKORI.

That’s the tweet…@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/V2RKWicpmQ

Nishikori, who triumphed in Tokyo in 2012 and 2014, hit cleanly in front of a capacity crowd on Coliseum to earn victory on his second match point after two hours and three minutes. The 34-year-old pumped the air following his win and embraced the roar from his home fans.

Nishikori will next play third seed Casper Ruud or Australian Jordan Thompson.

Tokyo Match Win Leaders

The 35-year-old Cilic won his 21st tour-level title and first since 2021 on Tuesday when he clinched the crown in Hangzhou. Like former Top 5 star Nishikori, Cilic has struggled with injuries in recent years, but reminded fans of what he was capable of last week in Hangzhou at the ATP 250, where he beat Zhang Zhizhen in the final.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]