Teen Kei Nishikori Sets Up Roddick Match with Win Over Hartfield
apanese teenager Kei Nishikori won his 10th straight ATP Tour match Wednesday, beating Argentina's Diego Hartfield 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the SAP Open.
The 18-year-old Nishikori vaulted to 131st in the world rankings following his upset victory over James Blake in the final at Delray Beach on Sunday.
He will next meet top-seeded Andy Roddick, who narrowly edged out Australian Chris Guccione, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5).
``I'm ready,'' Nishikori said. ``I'll be facing another top 10 player. His serve is a big thing. He'll be the highest ranked player I've ever played.''
Midway through the first set, Nishikori saw Roddick watching.
``When I was down 4-3, I saw him in the stands,'' Nishikori said. ``I got really nervous. He was sitting next to my coach. I wanted to play Roddick. That's why I won.''
Roddick was doing some last-minute scouting on his upcoming opponent, who became the first Japanese to win an ATP title for 16 years by winning at Delray Beach.
``I saw him play a little bit last week,'' Roddick said of Nishikori. ``I'd be lying if I said I knew a lot about him. I saw him play tonight. He looks like he's full of confidence and he has a lot of momentum going for him.
``I've begun asking around about him. I hope to talk to James (Blake) tomorrow about their match together last Sunday,'' Roddick said.
After winning the first set handily, Roddick struggled through the next two sets. For every point Roddick won on his serve, the towering Guccione matched him. Guccione turned Roddick's game of aces against him with a 20-9 edge in the match.
``It came down to a couple of points tonight,'' Roddick said. ``I'm glad I had something to show for it at the end of the match.''
Guccione won the second set when he ran together seven straight points in the tiebreaker.
``I played a sloppy double fault,'' Roddick said. ``And, then, he put together a little bit of a run of points on me. It was also the kind of match that you can play horribly and win and you can play well and lose.''
Guccione praised Roddick's passing shots, and was encouraged by his own performance.
``The match was a good sign for me,'' Guccione said. ``It was against a top 10 player and it showed that I'm getting closer to them.''
In the other evening match, third-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany defeated Robert Kendrick, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
In afternoon matches, fourth-seeded Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic edged Bobby Reynolds 7-5, 7-6 (5); Robby Ginepri upset eighth-seeded Kristof Vliegen of Belgium 6-2, 6-3; and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain beat Benjamin Becker of Germany 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
Thu February 21, 2008 04:16 EST
SAN JOSE, California (AP)
Kei Nishikori celebrates after winning the first set against Diego Hartfield, of Argentina, in the SAP Open tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008. Nishikori won 7-5, 6-3.
(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
apanese teenager Kei Nishikori won his 10th straight ATP Tour match Wednesday, beating Argentina's Diego Hartfield 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the SAP Open.
