Thionville, France – Former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori continued his comeback journey with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Clément Tabur in the first round of the Thionville Open Challenger on Tuesday.

Returning to Form

The 36-year-old Nishikori, who qualified for the main draw, has been working his way back to competitive play after a period sidelined by injury. He previously competed in the Canberra Challenger in January, where he was forced to retire in his opening match.

A Hard-Fought Victory

Nishikori secured the first set with a break in the 11th game, but Tabur responded by taking the second set after capitalizing on 12 unforced errors from Nishikori. The Japanese player rallied in the deciding set, breaking Tabur’s serve in the first game and again in the third with a backhand passing shot.

“It was pretty solid. It was a full set, though. In the second set, my opponent also stepped up their play, so there was nothing I could do about it. There was one game where I was a little loose, so I’d like to fix that next time.”

Kei Nishikori

This win marks Nishikori’s first three-match winning streak in nearly a year, dating back to the Arizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix in March of last year.

Looking Ahead

Nishikori will next face sixth-seeded Nicolai Budkov Kjaer of Norway in the second round. Budkov Kjaer defeated Alex Molcan in his first-round match.

“I played better than yesterday. He (Taboul) hit the ball really hard, had a good stroke, and a good backhand. He also had a heavy forehand with a lot of spin. It wasn’t easy, but I think I played some good tennis today.”

Kei Nishikori

“It was fun. A lot of people came today, and the same was true yesterday. I’m really enjoying this week.”

Kei Nishikori

FAQ

• What is Kei Nishikori’s current ranking? 284
• Who did Nishikori defeat in the first round? Clément Tabur
• What tournament is Nishikori competing in? Thionville Open Challenger