Tokyo brought defeat for the top two seeds in the first round, which was all the opening the third seed, Kei Nishikori of Japan, and the fourth seed, Milos Raonic of Canada, needed to march into the final.
In a tight three sets, Nishikori beat Milos Raonic 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4, in a match which lasted 2 hours and 13 minutes.
Tokyo has been good to Japan’s top player — this was Kei’s second title there. He now has four titles in 2014, along with a Grand Slam final appearance at the US Open. It’s safe to say these are Kei’s best career achievements.
But there is more to be achieved. Both Nishikori and Raonic are still fighting for the last five spots that are yet to be filled in the race to the year end championship in London.
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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Sum_of_Marc