Match Report
Nishikori reaches first ATP Tour final in six years in Hong Kong
Muller defeats Munar at ATP 250
January 04, 2025
HKCTA
Kei Nishikori is chasing his 13th tour-level title.
By Sam Jacot
Kei Nishikori is into his first ATP Tour final in six years.
The Japanese wild card advanced to the title match at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open on Saturday, when Chinese lefty Shang Juncheng was forced to retire due to illness at 3-4 in the first set of the pair’s semi-final clash.
Nishikori will now play in his 27th tour-level final and first since 2019, when he won Brisbane. The 35-year-old is up to No. 74 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will return to the Top 100 for the first time since June 2022 on Monday.
Nishikori will be aiming to capture his 13th tour-level crown and has rolled back the years with a series of impressive wins in Hong Kong. The former World No. 4 defeated Denis Shapovalov, Karen Khachanov and Cameron Norrie en route to the semi-finals.
Shang, who competed at last month’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, was playing in his fourth tour-level semi-final and second in Hong Kong. The 19-year-old won his first ATP Tour title in Chengdu in September.
“I had a fever last night and today has been a really tough day,” Shang said. “Me standing here is a miracle and I am sorry and I will be back next year.”
Nishikori will face Alexandre Muller in the championship decider. The Frenchman moved to within one win of capturing his first ATP Tour title when he battled past Jaume Munar 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.
In an entertaining semi-final clash in Hong Kong, Muller rallied from a set and 1-3 down to eventually prevail after two hours and 28 minutes in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.
“It was a tough match again,” Muller said. “A bit like all the matches this week, I lost the first set but then got the win. It is my second final on the Tour and I am very happy. I hope to do my best on Sunday.”
Muller, who saved two match points in his second-round victory against Miomir Kecmanovic, is into his second tour-level final, having lost to Roberto Carballes Baena in Marrakech in 2023. The 27-year-old is up eight spots to No. 59 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to rise to a career-high on Monday.
