Kei Nishikori stuns Stefanos Tsitsipas in Montreal, takes rare top-20 victory

Seventeen years after his debut in Montreal, Kei Nishikori is still capable of achieving remarkable triumphs. The Japanese stunned world No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in the second round, achieving his first top-20 victory since the Tokyo Olympics three years ago!

Kei is ranked 576th and the third-lowest ranked player in the third round of the Masters 1000 series. He stopped the clock at 34 and reminded everyone of his old form. Tsitsipas came to Montreal after losing to Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games.

The Greek struggled to get his shots in, sending his father from the stands and showing signs of frustration. Tsitsipas hit nine aces and was well behind the first serve, although Nishikori surpassed those figures.

The world number 11 struggled behind second serve, facing four break points and giving up three serves. Kei defended two of the three break points, took four points more than his rival and emerged as the best player at the Masters 1000 since Rome 2021.

Kei Nishikori achieved his best victory in three years in Montreal.

They continued to go neck and neck in the shortest and most advanced exchanges.

Nishikori built up a small advantage in the mid-range rallies, prevailed in those crucial moments and advanced to the third round. The Japanese made a solid start, served well and secured a break in the third game after the Greek’s slice error.

Not feeling the ball, Stefanos hit a backhand error in the fifth game, giving Kei another break chance. Tsitsipas hit another backhand long, lost his serve for the second time in a row and fell 4-1 behind. The Japanese held at love for 5-1 and served for the opener at 5-3.

Stefanos pulled back a break and held the next, cutting the gap to 5-4 and extending the match. Nishikori served for the set for the second time in the tenth game and hit a routine forehand, giving Tsitsipas two break chances.

The Japanese kept his cool and held them off, taking a set point after a loose backhand from the Greek and taking it over for 6-4 after 37 minutes.

The lower-ranked player produced five comfortable holds in the second set, keeping the pressure on the other side. Stefanos hit a wild forehand in the third game, losing his serve and going down a set and a break. Kei consolidated the advantage with a hold in game four and drew his rival’s error two games later for 4-2.

Tsitsipas saved a break point in the seventh game, stayed within one break but failed to generate any pace on the return. Kei caused Stefanos’ error in the eighth game, created a 5-3 gap and served for the win at 5-4. Nishikori attacked at 30-30 and earned a match point with a forehand winner. The Japanese converted after the Greek’s error, went over the top and embraced his best victory in three years.