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Monday 15 February 2016
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Nishikori beats American
for 4th straight Memphis title
TERESA M. WALKER Chang won Wembley in 40. Nishikori had another Kei Nishikori, of Japan, plays his guitar trophy after defeating
AP Sports Writer 1989 at the age of 17 to chance to break Fritz in Taylor Fritz in the singles championship at the Memphis Open
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Kei reach an ATP Tour final and the seventh game, but the tennis tournament Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, in Memphis, Tenn. Ni-
Nishikori had practiced was trying to join Chang as teenager fought off three shikori won 6-4, 6-4.
against teenager Taylor a winner in just his third ca- break points to hold serve
Fritz a few times over the reer ATP event. An Ameri- and go up 4-3. Nishikori Associated Press
past couple years with- can teen hadn’t reached held serve, then broke Fritz
out beating the American an ATP final since Andy after the teen had game
even once. Roddick in 2002 in Montre- point at 40-15. Nishikori
Until Sunday, when it mat- al, and a teen hadn’t won served out winning the set
tered. on tour since Marin Cilic in in 36 minutes.q
Nishikori won his fourth New Haven in 2008.
straight Memphis Open title Fritz came into the year just
Sunday, beating Fritz 6-4, hoping to crack the top
6-4. The Japanese player 100. He will rank around No.
joined Jimmy Connors as 103 on Monday, a big jump
the only four-time winners from 937 a year ago.
of the event and became “I definitely didn’t expect
the fourth active player to to get to the finals so quick-
win an event four times, ly starting on the ATP level,
joining Novak Djokovic, but it’s a great accom-
Roger Federer and Rafael plishment to get here,”
Nadal. Fritz said. “I’m really happy
“I was little bit nervous to- despite losing the finals be-
day ...,” Nishikori said. “I cause I had a great week
tried to get another tactic and I have to be happy
again to make him work. with the result. So I have a
And yeah, happy to win lot of confidence moving
today.” Nishikori made the forward, and I hope I can
6-foot-4 Fritz chase the ball keep these kind of results
as much as possible, plac- going.”
ing many shots just out of At 26 and a winner of 54
the teenager’s reach. matches each of the past
“It’s not easy to hit a win- two years, Nishikori used
ner against him, especially his experience, touch and
with this slow court,” Nishi- speed to finish off Fritz in
kori said. “So I have to fin- an hour, 19 minutes. Fritz
ish really strong, finish the served up nine aces with
points really strong with us- his big serve, but Nishikori
ing my legs and everything was much more effective
so it wasn’t easy. And also winning 31 of 38 points on
he was hitting many good his first serve.
serves. It was tough to play Fritz said he felt he figured
obviously.” out his serve in the second
Ranked No. 7 in the world, set of his semifinal victory
Nishikori won his 11th career Saturday, and he opened
title and first since Washing- the final winning each
ton last August. He picked point on his first five first
up the $109,950 check with serves needing only two
his 17th straight match win aces. Nishikori won only
in Memphis. Nishikori hasn’t two points off his own serve
lost at The Racquet Club in being broken. Fritz then
in the main draw since the jumped out 40-0 in taking a
first round in 2009. 3-0 lead.
The 18-year-old Fritz al- Nishikori held serve and
ready was the youngest then broke Fritz when the
American since Michael teen double-faulted at 30-
