Kei Nishikori collected a much-needed straight-sets victory over fellow marathon man Joao Sousa to book his place in the fourth round of Australian Open 2019, the No.8 seed coasting after a tight start for a 7-6(6) 6-1 6-2 win.
Both Nishikori and Sousa had played 10 sets to reach the third round – the Portuguese matching his best run at Melbourne Park in the process – but it was the three-time quarter-finalist who was fresher when it mattered on MCA and wrapped up victory in two hours, six minutes.
“I love to play on this court. I feel very comfortable, and it’s been three in a row playing here,” said Nishikori, who will look to extend his unbeaten start to the season to eight matches against No.23 seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the last 16.
“Everything is doing well – I had a very good off-season, then winning Brisbane, it’s been a good start to the year. I finished in three good sets today, I’m playing good tennis, and very much looking forward to next week.”
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Nishikori made a rather inauspicious start to the match, coughing up a break in the opening game, but recovered to level up at 2-2. Both players faced battles to stay on serve, Sousa saving a virtual set point to hold for 5-6 before Nishikori sent the opener into a tiebreak.
This time it was Sousa who blinked early as Nishikori ran out to a 3-0 lead, only to blow two set points before the Portuguese dumped a backhand into the base of the net on his third.
Suddenly the toll of those first two rounds caught up with Sousa, who took a medical timeout for work on his left leg and hip after making just seven first serves as he was blitzed by Nishikori in the second.
The world No.44 continued after some industrious work from the physio but was a half-step too slow to live with Nishikori, who broke twice behind some razor-sharp returns to move 4-0 in front. From there the No.8 seed could ease off, serving out a comfortable win sealed with a forehand winner, his 34th of the match.
“The first set could go both ways,” Nishikori admitted. “He was playing well, he was serving well, playing aggressive, using his forehand. But second and third, I think I relaxed a little more, start hitting more good shots, heavy, and serving well. Yeah, it obviously helps for my body winning in three sets.”
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As for Carreno Busta, the world No.9 added: “I'm sure it's going to be something like today. There are going to be many rallies. He's very solid from baseline, he can move well, good serve. I'm sure it's going to be a tough match.”