Nishikori survives Karlovic test in Melbourne

Kei Nishikori needed a fifth-set tie-break to overcome Ivo Karlovic at the Australian Open.

Published : Jan 17, 2019 10:30 IST

Japan's Kei Nishikori
Japan's Kei Nishikori
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Japan's Kei Nishikori

Kei Nishikori survived a huge scare in the Australian Open second round, battling past Ivo Karlovic in a marathon five-setter on Thursday.

Also pushed to five sets in the opening round, Nishikori was tested again before claiming a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 5-7 7-6 (10-7) victory after three hours, 48 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.

Key highlights: Day 4

It was just the third men's match to need a super tie-break, introduced at the tournament this year, at the Australian Open.

 

Karlovic, 39, served 59 aces but was unable to hold off Nishikori in an enthralling final-set tie-break.

Nishikori, the eighth seed, held from 0-40 down in the ninth game of the fifth set and it proved to be crucial.

A three-time quarter-finalist in Melbourne, the Japanese star will face either Philipp Kohlschreiber or Joao Sousa in the third round.

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