Japan’s Kei Nishikori won his 100th vocation Grand Slam match on Wednesday, easing into the second spherical at Wimbledon with a straight-sets victory over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin.
Kei Nishikori of Japan celebrates after winning a 1st-round match from Alexei Popyrin of Australia at Wimbledon on June 30, 2021, in London, England. (Getty/Kyodo)
Nishikori, ranked 53rd in the globe, necessary just beneath two several hours to defeat the No. 67 Australian. Popyrin blasted 10 aces but unsuccessful to earn a single crack level in the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 match.
“I was equipped to retain him less than force even with my stroke play and get the initiative. It went amazingly properly,” mentioned Nishikori, who was actively playing the 1.92-meter 21-calendar year-outdated for the first time.
Whilst he often dropped traction on the grass, Nishikori managed the minimal bounces off the rapid surface area and appeared to have very little issues with his forehand inspite of some panic about an aged ideal wrist harm in a pre-match match.
“I felt almost no soreness,” he said.
About the author
