Nishikori advances to 3rd round at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori stayed on track for another strong Grand Slam performance when he beat Ivan Dodig 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (0) on Thursday in the second round of the Australian Open.
Dodig was serving for the fourth set at 5-4 when Nishikori broke the Croatian's serve, lashing a backhand past Dodig, who stood helpless at the net.
Nishikori wasted a match point in the 12th game before shutting out Dodig in the tiebreaker to clinch the match in 2 hours, 47 minutes, delighting the hundreds of Japanese fans in the crowd.
Nishikori lost in the final of the U.S. Open to Marin Cilic, who is not playing the Australian Open due to a right shoulder injury.
Ivan Dodig of Croatia makes a backhand return to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
The Associated Press
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