Japan's Nishikori stuns Blake for first title
Updated: 2008-02-18 10:08
DELRAY BEACH, Florida - Teenager Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese player to win an ATP event in nearly 16 years when he shocked top seed James Blake to win the Delray Beach International on Sunday.
 Kei Nishikori, from Japan, poses for photos after winning the Delray Beach International Tennis tournament in Delray Beach, Fla. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. Nishikori defeated James Blake, 6-3, 1-6 and 4-6. [Agencies] |
The 18-year-old qualifier defeated the American 3-6 6-1 6-4 despite a gulf of over 200 places between their rankings.
After dropping the first set, the free-swinging Nishikori found his range on service and his groundstrokes, bullying the more experienced Blake with a barrage of backhand winners.
Nishikori saved three break points in his first service game of the third set, then immediately broke Blake with a clean down-the-line backhand return that the American could not retrieve.
The young Japanese player showed no nerves in the latter stages, serving out the match to love to claim the first title of his career.
Nishikori came into the tournament ranked 244th in the world while Blake was 12th.
Shuzo Matsuoka was the last Japanese to win an ATP event when he triumphed in Seoul in April 1992.
In the doubles final, second seeds Max Mirnyi and Jamie Murray defeated the top-ranked team of Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4 3-6 (10-6).
The first win for the pairing was particularly sweet for Murray, whose brother Andy won the singles title at the Marseille Open earlier on Sunday.
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