Kei Nishikori took the men’s singles title at the 2019 Brisbane International, dropping the second set to Daniil Medvedev but securing victory in the third.
Final score
Kei Nishikori 6 3 6
Daniil Medvedev 4 6 2
The No.2 and No.4 seeds, Kei Nishikori and Daniil Medvedev respectively, will battle it out tonight on Pat Rafter Arena in the Brisbane International ATP final. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEDT).
After a slow start to 2018, Kei Nishikori’s world ranking was back up to 9 by year end, helped along by a US open semi final appearance and late season finals in Tokyo and Vienna.
After a first round bye, Nishikori has won through to the final without dropping a set, the biggest win being his 7-5 7-5 win over Grigor Dimitrov. He got to the final with a very comfortable 6-2 6-2 win over Jerome Chardy.
Despite his high ranking, Nishikori’s last ATP title win was back in 2016, so he will be very keen to get the win tonight and silence any doubters.
Daniil Medvedev, at 22 years of age, is one of the young guns looking to make their mark on the ATP tour. By the end of the 2018 season, his ranking had risen to 16 and it feels like the only way is up.
Medvedev won three titles in 2018 – Sydney, Winston-Salem and, most recently, Tokyo. The most relevant thing about Tokyo is that Medvedev defeated Nishikori 6-2 6-4 in the final.
Medvedev has survived a tough draw on the way to the final, taking out Andy Murray, Milos Raonic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Prediction
As finals should be, this is a toss of the coin job.
Kei Nishikori won’t be short of motivation, looking to atone for his disappointing loss to Daniil Medvedev in Tokyo.
I think that will prove to be just enough, with Nishikori winning a very evenly matched contest.
Nishikori in 3 sets.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEDT).
David Holden
Roar Guru
That was a great fightback from Nishikori as he seemed down and out aftert losing the second set. His face was 100% relief after winning that and he fully deserves his return to the winner's circle. The summer of tennis next heads south to Sydney. Hope you enjoyed the call, Roarers. Good night
David Holden
Roar Guru
Double fault for 0-15. Great return and Medvedev nets the backhand. 0-30. Unforced error and 3 Championship points. Nishikori takes his first match point with a ripping backhand and his drought is over. GAME SET MATCH NISHIKORI 6-4 3-6 6-2 Nishikori 6 3 6 Medvedev 4 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Backhand crosscourt pass from Medvedev. 0-15. Double fault. 0-30. Great smash from the baseline from Medvedev. 0-40. Huge forehand from Medvedev and he has got one break back. Nishikori 6 3 5 Medvedev 4 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good forehands from Nishikori draws the error. 0-15. Great return for 0-30. Medvedev nets the backhand. 0-40. Great crosscourt backhand to save 1 break point. 15-40. Medvedev has hit the forehand long and Nishikori has a double break Nishikori 6 3 5 Medvedev 4 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Medvedev clearly needs to hold here Nishikori 6 3 4 Medvedev 4 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Medvedev misses the backhand down the line. 15-0. Medvedec hits the backhand long.30-0. Big forehand winner from the Russian and its 30-15. Great forehand approach for Nishikori and 40-15. Sliding serve draws the error and Nishikori holds. Nishikori 6 3 4 Medvedev 4 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ace for 15-0. Double fault. 15-15. Medvedev loses a forehand wide. 15-30. Medvedev misses a forehand approach and two break points. Nishikori takes his chance this time and has broken Nishikori 6 3 3 Medvedev 4 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great defence from Medvedec before he gets a lucky net cord. 0-15. Nishikori sprays a backhand. 0-30. Medvedev just misses a backhand pass. 15-30. Ace wide to the backhand for 30-30. Great groundstrokes from Nishikori and a forehand winner. 40-30. Medvedev nets the forehand and Nishikori comes back in that game to hold. Nishikori 6 3 2 Medvedev 4 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Nishikori goes just wide with his backhand. 15-0. Kicking serve forces the error. 30-0. Ace makes it 40-0. Another unplayable serve and Medvedev holds Nishikori 6 3 1 Medvedev 4 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forced backhand error from Medvedev. 15-0. Forehand just wide from Medvedev. 30-0. Double fault, his first. 30-15. Another double. 30-30. Sliding serve forces the error. 40-30. Nishikori nets the forehand down the line. Deuce. Loose forehand from Medvedev. Nishikori has the ad. Medvedec nets the forehand. A slow start from both players but Nishikori holds. Nishikori 6 3 1 Medvedev 4 6 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Nishikori to serve to start the final set Nishikori 6 3 0 Medvedev 4 6 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
It took a while but the momentum did finally swing in that set. Nishikori missed too many break chances and Medvedev stepped it up. Nishikori 6 3 Medvedev 4 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Two big serves for 30-0. Medvedev nets a backhand. 30-15. Ace for 40-15 and 2 set points. Sliding serve and Medvedev has evened this up. Nishikori 6 3 Medvedev 4 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good serve down the T forces the error. 15-0. Forced backhand error from Medvedev. 30-0. Nishikori hits a forehand long.30-15. Medvedev's backhands too good there. 30-30. Outstanding groundstrokes from Medvedev. He has a break point. Backhand winner...it so often happens this way. Medvedev has the break Nishikori 6 3 Medvedev 4 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sharp work at the net again from Medvedev. 15-0. Double fault and 15-15. Nishikori nets the forehand return. 30-15. Medvedev hits his backhand long and has cracked his racquet. 30-30. Unforced forehand error from Nishikori. 40-30. That's a bad miss. Great point where Medvedec finally commits an error. Deuce. Nishikori finishes another long rally with a backhand volley winner. Break point. Nishikori catches the tape. Deuce. He needs to land a blow here Forehand winner down the line from Medvedev. Great return forces the error and deuce. Medvedev's backhands prove too strong. He has the ad. Medvedev holds on and you have to wonder whether Nishikori will regret these missed chances. Nishikori 6 3 Medvedev 4 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sliding serve and forehand winner. 15-0. Medvedev nets a forehand. 30-0. Medvedev nets a backhand and my momentum change may be premature. 40-0. Easy hold for Nishikori Nishikori 6 3 Medvedev 4 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good sliding serve sets up that point. 15-0. Medvedev's serve has picked up. Return too good though and 15-15. Medvedev pushes backhand long. 15-30. Medvedev advances to net but a good lob and passing shot gets two break points. 15-40. One saved at the net. 30-40. Great point from Medvedev finished at the net. Deuce. Nishikori nets the forehand return. He pushes a backhand long and we are back to deuce. Nishikori forces another break point with his forehand. Good serve to the backhand and its deuce. Medvedev advances to the net but his volley goes wide. Break point. Nishikori nets the backhand return. Great point and Medvedev wins at the net. He has picked his game up. Ace for a very important hold and I'm calling a momentum change. Nishikori 6 2 Medvedev 4 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Short serve allows Medvedev to take the net and win the point. 0-15. Nishikori hits a forehand long and 0-30. Momentum change? Medvedev nets the return. 15-30. Great rally again before a Nishikori backhand down the line prevails. 30-30. Good serve down the T. 40-30. Deep return forces the error. Deuce. Medvedev pushes the backhand long and Nishikori has the advantage. Good serve and Nishikori has done well to hold here. Nishikori 6 2 Medvedev 4 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big serve down the T for 15-0. Backhand error from Medvedev. 15-15. Ace for 30-15 at 199km/hr. Backhand return catches the tape and lands out. 40-15. Ace for the game Nishikori 6 1 Medvedev 4 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand into the net from Medvedev. 15-0. Classy net play from Nishikori. 30-0. Serve down the T forces the error. 40-0. Medvedec cracks a backhand down the line. 40-15. Sliding serve and then forehand to the open court wins the game. Nishikori 6 1 Medvedev 4 1