Australian Open: Ruud and Nishikori Triumph in Five-Set Showdowns
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Melbourne, Jan 12 (NationPress) Sixth seed Casper Ruud emerged victorious in a gripping contest on Sunday, defeating Spaniard Jaume Munar with scores of 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 at the iconic Rod Laver Arena. This win marks Ruud's fourth consecutive advancement to the second round at the Australian Open.
Ruud showcased his prowess with 48 winners against 37 unforced errors, delivering an exceptional performance in the fifth set where he converted 93 percent (13/14) of his first-serve points, culminating in a victory that lasted three hours and 24 minutes, according to ATP statistics.
The 26-year-old, who has been a finalist in three major tournaments, improved his record in five-set matches to 10-6 with this win, and now leads Munar 3-1 in their ATP Head-to-Head encounters.
Ruud's best performance in Melbourne occurred in 2021 when he reached the fourth round. He is set to face either Czech player Jakub Mensik or Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili in his next match.
In another thrilling match, Japan's Kei Nishikori staged a remarkable comeback after falling behind two sets to love, saving match points against Brazil's Thiago Monteiro in an exhilarating first-round contest.
Playing under the roof on John Cain Arena, Nishikori was on the verge of defeat when he faced two match points while serving at 4-5 in the third set. However, he displayed resilience, hitting 23 winners and making only eight unforced errors in the fourth and fifth sets to secure a 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 victory after four hours and six minutes.
This marks Nishikori's first advancement to the second round of the Australian Open since 2019, when he reached the quarter-finals for the fourth time.
The 35-year-old arrived at this hard-court major following a strong performance that led him to the final of an ATP 250 event in Hong Kong and will next compete against either Tommy Paul or Christopher O’Connell.
Earlier in the day, Frenchman Arthur Fils secured a victory against Otto Virtanen with a score of 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4. The 20-year-old will next face fellow countryman Quentin Halys or Australian Adam Walton.
