Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open: Nishikori sets up Shang semi-final after seeds exit
China’s Shang ends the run of Fabian Marozsan, while Jaume Munar and Alexandre Muller beat their seeded opponents and will meet in last four
Kei Nishikori stormed into the semi-finals as seniority prevailed at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Friday.
The Japanese veteran, at one time ranked as high as No 4 but now down at 106, needed three sets to get past Britain’s world No 49 Cameron Norrie, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a last-four tie with China’s Jerry Shang Juncheng, who is 16 years his junior at 19.
Earlier in the day, Shang battled a fever before winning his match against Fabian Marozsan. Jaume Munar and Alexandre Muller will meet in the other semi after they, too, made their experience count to confound the seedings.
Nishikori gained the upper hand as he took the first set in a low-key opening. Norrie’s first break put him 3-1 ahead in the second set, which he claimed. He fell behind, though, in the decider and was beaten when the ball cannoned off Nishikori’s racquet and lobbed him.
“It was a really tough game,” Nishikori said. “It was only one [break] each, first and second set, and it was a really close match. There were many tough moments where I forced through. I played aggressive enough.”
