Nishikori Strikes Back After Slow Start On Centre Court

Kei Nishikori recovered from a slow start on Centre Court Thursday afternoon to book his place in the third round at The Championships.

The eighth-seeded Japanese star bounced back from 2-4 down in the first set en route to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in one hour and 48 minutes.

Last year’s quarter-finalist Nishikori, who capitalized on service inconsistency from Norrie, won seven straight games from 5-4 in the second set. Norrie won just nine of 30 points on second serve.

The 29-year-old Nishikori, who has now recorded 399 match wins in his career, will now prepare to face American Steve Johnson, who hit 49 winners to work his way past #NextGenATP No. 25 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in three hours and 21 minutes.

Elsewhere, fifth seed Dominic Thiem’s conqueror, 2017 semi-finalist Sam Querrey, continued his run of form by thumping 26 aces past Andrey Rublev of Russia 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes. Last week, Querrey advanced to the Nature Valley International final (l. to Fritz).

He’ll now play Australia’s John Millman, who is through to the Wimbledon third round for the first time since 2016, after he performed consistently on serve to knock out No. 31 seed Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in two hours and seven minutes.

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