Nishikori, Coric, Busta enter 3rd of Australian Open 2019

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 9 in ATP rankings Kei Nishikori, 29, Japan, survived 58 Aces fired by World No 73 Ivo Karlovic, 39, Croatia, to entered the 3rd round of Australian Open (AO) at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on January 17, 2019. Nishikori fired 8 Aces in the match.

Nishikori edged past Karlovic in a five-set marathon 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 5-7, 7-6 in the second round. Karlovic won 2 break points to 1 by Nishikori. Both the players won 3 games each in a row in the match. Nishikori’s winning percentage both on his first and second serve ( 79 % & 76%) was better than that of Karloviv ( 78% & 66%). Karlovic had reached 4th round of Australian Open in 2010 and quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2009. He had also reached 4th round of US Open in 2016.

World No 12 Borna Coric, 22, Croatia, also advanced to the 3rd round brushing aside World No 38 Marton Fucsovics, 26, Hungary, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in gthe 2nd round. Coric fired 13 Aces in the match to 11 by Fucsovics. Coric committed 5 double faults to 4 by Fucsovics. Coric won 4 break points  to 1 by Fucsovics in the match. Coric won 5 games in a row to2 by Fucsovics. Coric has entered the 3rd round of Australian Open for the first time.

World No 23 Pablo Carreno Busta, 27, Spain, beat World No 84 Ilya Ivashka, 24, Belarus, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 to enter the third round of the tournament. Ivashka though fired 11 Aces in the match to 5 by Busta. He, however, committed 10 double faults to 3 by Busta. Busta won 6 break points to 2 by Ivashka. Both the players won 4 games each in a row.