NEW YORK, September 3, 2018
Kei Nishikori is through to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the second time running after he defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 at the US Open on Monday afternoon.
The former finalist from 2014 was broken when serving for the match in the third set at 5-4 but responded immediately to avoid being taken to a tie-break. Nishikori advanced in two hours and 16 minutes.
The former World No. 4 from Japan will meet either Marin Cilic, who beat him in the 2014 Flushing Meadows final, or Belgium’s David Goffin.
Later in the day, Novak Djokovic booked his spot in the stage of the final eight. The former World No. 1 from Serbia beat Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
“Very happy to get this one done in straight set. It was much more difficult than the scoreline indicated. Joao brought a lot of intensity,” Djokovic said and added about the hot conditions in New York:
“I prefer not to talk about how difficult it is. We are blessed to play the sport we love. This is one of the biggest stages in tennis. I am just trying to cherish every minute on the court. I am not 21 anymore. I still don’t feel old but at the dame time there is a little biological clock that is not working in your favour.”
Keys, Osaka prevail
In the women’s draw, Madison Keys is through to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows once again. The 23-year-old defeated Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 6-3 with an encouraging performance for the home favourite, who will hope to go one better than her run to the showpiece last year.
The US-American will face the winner of the night session meeting between Carla Suarez Navarro and Maria Sharapova.