Twitter
Advertisement

Delray Beach Open: Kei Nishikori withdraws with hip injury

Latest News
article-main
Kei Nishikori.
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

A hip injury forced third seed Kei Nishikori to retire from his second round match at the  in Florida on Thursday.

The world number 15 from Japan, coming off his win in Memphis on Sunday, his fourth ATP career title, lasted only six games against Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia.

Gabashvili was leading 4-2 when Nishikori called it a day due to a painful left hip flexor. He later withdrew from next week's Acapulco event.

"I tried to play, but if you're not 100 per cent, it's tough," Nishikori told reporters.

"I couldn't do anything today. It's going to take some time to recover. It's shocking this happened, especially since I've been playing well."

Second seed John Isner had to dig deep to win his second round match, recovering from a big deficit in a third-set tiebreak to beat Dudi Sela of Israel 3-6 6-1 7-6 (5).

In a match of fluctuating fortunes, American Isner had four match points in the 10th game of the third set before Sela, who is ranked 75th in the world, recovered to hold serve.

Buoyed by that escape, Sela led 5-2 in the tiebreak before Isner won the final five points of the match, closing it out with a forehand winner.

"It puts a lot of stress on me playing matches like that. It seems I always do it but I'm glad to get through," said Isner, who has a perfect 5-0 record in three-set matches this year.

"I wish I didn't have to dig so deep... I think he (Sela) may have got a little nervous (in the tiebreak)."

Seventh seed Marin Cilic of Croatia had a more easier outing, beating American Ryan Harrison 6-3 6-4.

In Thursday's late game, American Rhyne Williams outlasted Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-7 (7) 6-4 6-2. 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement