Nishikori, Pouille enter QFs of Australian Open 2019

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 9 in ATP rankings Kei Nishikori, 29, Japan, beat World No 23 Pablo Carreno Busta, 27, in a five-set marathon in the 4th found of Australian Open (AO) on January 21, 2019, to enter the quarter-finals of the tournament for the fourth time in his career. Both the players won 6 break points each in the match. Nishikori had earlier reached the quarter-finals of Australian Open in 2012, 2015, and 2016. Busta had also lost in the 4th round of Australian Open in 2018.

Nishikori defeated Busta 6-7, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia. Nishikori lost the first two sets but rallied back strongly to win the next three sets. Nishikori fired 15 Aces in the match to 5 by Busta. Both the players committed 2 double faults each. Both of them also won 3 games each in a row in the match. Busta won 129 service points while Nishikori won 127.

World No 31 Lucas Pouille, 24, France, upset World No 12 Borna Coric, 22, in a tough four-set contest 6-7, 6-4, 7-5. 7-6 in the fourth round on January 21, 2019, to enter the quarter-finals of the AO 2019. Coric hammered 24 Aces in the match to 19 by Pouille. But, Coric, also committed 5 double faults to 2 by Pouille. Pouille won 4 break points to 2 by his rival. The French players won 5 games in a row in the match to 3 by Coric. The Croatian won 102 service points to 99 by Pouille.

Coric is yet to reach quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event in his career. Pouille had reached QFs of US Open in 2016. Pouille will face World No 17 Milos Raonic, Canada, in the quarter-finals on January 23, 2019.