Almost three years after capturing his 11th tour-level title in Memphis, Kei Nishikori added a 12th ATP Tour trophy to his collection at the Brisbane International on Sunday.

The Japanese star ended a streak of nine straight tour-level final losses to beat Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in a repeat of last year’s championship match in Tokyo, won by the Russian. Nishikori won 70 per cent of first-serve points (31/44) to earn victory, in his 51st event since his 2016 triumph in Tennessee, after two hours and four minutes.

“To win the tournament is very emotional. That’s why I’m playing,” said Nishikori. “I was trying in every final and every tournament… I played a great match against Dimitrov and today’s match was another good tennis [match]. I’m sure Daniil is going to be [in the] Top 10 soon.”

Nishikori becomes the first Japanese champion in Brisbane, two years after falling to Grigor Dimitrov in the championship match. The World No. 9 defeated Dimitrov en route to the title, beating the Bulgarian in the last eight before earning wins over Jeremy Chardy and Medvedev.

Twelve months ago, Nishikori was forced to withdraw from Brisbane with a right wrist injury before returning to action on the ATP Challenger Tour in Newport Beach. The Japanese No. 1 soon returned to his best level, reaching three tour-level finals in 2018 before ending the season with a fourth appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

“I always start with this tournament and Melbourne, [but I] couldn’t make it last year. So I had to start at some ATP Challenger Tour events,” said Nishikori. “For sure, [this year is] a better start because I feel this tournament is always the start of the year. Playing with these guys, these top players, always motivates me. Playing good tennis [and being] very happy and healthy is one of the best keys for me.”

In the early stages, Medvedev proved comfortable exchanging backhands with Nishikori before bringing his forehand into play to seize control and open up a 3-0 lead. But Nishikori soon found his feet, increasing his aggression to strike forehand winners in important moments as Medvedev began to mistime his groundstrokes. Nishikori claimed five straight games to lead 5-3 and soon earned a one-set advantage after holding serve to love with a cross-court backhand winner. 

After saving eight break points early in the second set, Medvedev manufactured one of his own at 4-3 with consistent aggression on his backhand side to rush Nishikori into forced errors. Medvedev managed to get his backhand into play, firing a backhand winner up the line to break before levelling the match with a comfortable service hold.

“[In the] second set I was a waiting too much and I couldn’t convert all the chances I had. He did really well [in the] 4-3 game,” said Nishikori. “He took the risk and he did well. Credit to him.”

Nishikori attacked Medvedev’s forehand early in the third set, extracting multiple errors to gain a 3-1 lead before cruising to victory. The second seed earned a double-break advantage to serve for the match at 5-1 and, despite dropping serve, Nishikori claimed the title in the following game with a cross-court backhand passing shot.

“In the third set, I started playing a little bit more inside and start hitting more,” said Nishikori. “When I realised I had to do something to win this match, I think I made a change really well. I think I returned well. That was the biggest key. [I was] able to return very deep and I think I gave him a little pressure.”

Medvedev was bidding to capture his fourth ATP Tour hard-court title in 12 months, having lifted his maiden tour-level trophy at the Sydney International last year (d. De Minaur) before wins in Winston-Salem (d. Johnson) and Tokyo (d. Nishikori). In 2018, Medvedev led the ATP Tour with 38 hard-court victories (38-15).

“If Kei plays like this, he is going to have a lot of success in this season,” said Medvedev on court.

Nishikori receives 250 ATP Ranking points and collects $90,990 in prize money for lifting the trophy. Medvedev gains 150 ATP Ranking points and receives $49,205.

Did You Know?
Nishikori has earned 40 or more tour-level victories in four of the past five ATP Tour seasons (2014-’16, 2018). The Japanese star has notched 30 or more tour-level wins in each of the past eight ATP Tour seasons (2011-18).

The ATP Tour heads into the second week of its 2019 season with two ATP 250 events on deck. Reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas is the top seed at the Sydney International, while 2018 Nitto ATP Finals qualifier John Isner leads the way at the ASB Classic.

Draws: Sydney | Auckland

10 THINGS TO WATCH IN SYDNEY
1) Top 20 Trio: World No. 15 Tsitsipas, No. 16 Daniil Medvedev and No. 17 Diego Schwartzman headline the Sydney International. Medvedev won his first of three titles last season inside Ken Rosewall Arena, spoiling the hopes of Sydney native Alex de Minaur in the final. De Minaur returns home this week as the No. 1 Aussie and the No. 31 player in the ATP Rankings.

2) No. 1 Aussie: One year ago, De Minaur entered Sydney as a special exempt and World No. 167. He advanced to the Brisbane semi-finals and Sydney final to become the youngest player since Rafael Nadal in 2005 to reach consecutive tour-level semi-finals. De Minaur, who turns 20 on 17 February, achieved a new career-high ATP Ranking 18 times in 2018 and earned ATP Newcomer of the Year honours.

3) First-Time Defending Champion: Like De Minaur, Medvedev was an unlikely finalist at the 2018 Sydney International. The Russian came through qualifying to win his first ATP Tour title. It was a sign of things to come for Medvedev, who went on to win two more championships in 2018 at Winston-Salem and Tokyo. Medvedev led all players with 38 victories on hard courts last season.

4) First-Time No. 1 Seed: Tsitsipas is the top seed at a tour-level event for the first time, although he won the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals title as the No. 1 seed. The 20-year-old is the first Greek to be ranked inside the Top 20, win an ATP Tour title (Stockholm), play an ATP Masters 1000 final (Toronto) and reach a Grand Slam Round of 16 (Wimbledon). Tsitsipas earned four Top 10 wins in Toronto.

5) New #NextGenATP: The dawn of a new season means another class of #NextGenATP players eager to make their mark on the ATP Tour. In 2019, players born in 1998 or later are considered #NextGenATP. Three of the four #NextGenATP players ranked inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings are competing in Sydney: Tsitsipas, De Minaur and Frances Tiafoe, who celebrates his 21st birthday on 20 January.

6) Sydney Sensations: De Minaur isn’t the only 19-year-old Sydney native playing in his hometown. Alexei Popyrin is a wild card after making his ATP Tour debut at the 2018 Sydney International. Popyrin qualified a year ago before falling to fellow Aussie John Millman in the opening round.

7) Other Aussies: Millman, James Duckworth, Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson will also represent Australia this week. In 2018, Millman achieved a new career-high ATP Ranking 10 times, peaking at No. 33 soon after upsetting No. 2 Roger Federer to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

8) Dangeous Diego: Schwartzman rose to a career-high No. 11 in the ATP Rankings in 2018, winning the biggest title of his career in Rio de Janeiro. The 5’7” Argentine finished the season with more than 30 wins for the second consecutive year.

9) Pouille’s Push: Frenchman Lucas Pouille not only won a title for the third consecutive year in 2018, but he also cracked the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time, albeit for two weeks. With new coach Amelie Mauresmo in his corner, will Pouille enjoy an even better 2019?

10) Studs in Dubs: Three of the eight teams that qualified for the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals are competing in the Sydney doubles draw: Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah, Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares and Nikola Mektic/Alexander Peya. Murray and Soares won their first of nine team titles at 2016 Sydney.

10 THINGS TO WATCH IN AUCKLAND
1) The Champs Are Here: Four-time champion David Ferrer and two-time champions Roberto Bautista Agut and Isner are eager for another title at the ASB Classic. Ferrer will make his final appearance in Auckland before retiring later this season. His countryman Bautista Agut arrives after triumphing at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.

2) Strong Starter: This isn’t the first season that Bautista Agut has begun at a high level. He went 9-1 with a title in Auckland to start 2016 and 11-1 with a title in Chennai to start 2017. The Spaniard beat Juan Martin del Potro to win his second Auckland title last year. Bautista Agut has earned at least 30 wins in five straight seasons and he has been ranked inside the Top 30 of the ATP Rankings each week since 12 May 2014.

3) Ferr-well: Ferrer’s four titles and 31 wins are the most at the ASB Classic in the Open Era. The 36-year-old Spaniard is making his 14th Auckland appearance and has been absent only once since 2006. Ferrer won his first non-clay title in Auckland in 2007 and three in a row from 2011-13.

Watch Ferrer Climb the Auckland Harbour Bridge In 2014

4) Fond Memories: Isner is the No. 1 seed after ending a year inside the Top 10 for the first time and Top 20 for the ninth straight time. The 6’10” American won the first of his 14 ATP Tour titles at the ASB Classic in 2010, then added another victory in Auckland in 2014. Auckland is the only title that Isner has won outside of the USA.

5) Fabulous Fabio: Like Isner, No. 2 seed Fabio Fognini is coming off a career year and he is opening his 2019 campaign at the ASB Classic. Fognini set career-highs in 2018 with three titles, 46 wins and a year-end ATP Ranking of No. 13. The Italian earned his 300th win on home soil in Rome.

6) Shapo’s Show: World No. 27 Denis Shapovalov, the second-ranked #NextGenATP player behind No. 15 Stefanos Tsitsipas, will make his second consecutive appearance at the ASB Classic. The left-handed Canadian made semi-finals in Delray Beach, Madrid and Tokyo in 2018, and he seeks his maiden ATP Tour trophy.

7) Chung’s Challenge: Coming off the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals title, Hyeon Chung was one of the hottest players on the ATP Tour. He beat both Djokovic and Alexander Zverev en route to the Australian Open semi-finals, then reached back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finals in Indian Wells and Miami. Chung, World No. 25, is within six spots of his career-best ATP Ranking: No. 19.

8) 15-Love: Gael Monfils will begin his 15th season on the ATP Tour in Auckland. In his 2018 season debut at Doha, Monfils won his seventh title. The Frenchman finished the year strong as well with a runner-up showing in Antwerp in October. He previously appeared at the ASB Classic in 2007 and 2013.

9) Another Former Champ: German Philipp Kohlschreiber won the second of his eight ATP Tour titles in Auckland in 2008. The 35-year-old, currently World No. 34, has remained inside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings since 6 March 2006.

10) Studs in Dubs: Three of the past five year-end No. 1 doubles teams are in Auckland: Oliver Marach/Mate Pavic (2018), Jean-Julien Rojer/Horia Tecau (2015) and Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (2014). The Bryan brothers reunited last week in Brisbane for the first time since Bob Bryan went down with a hip injury in the Madrid final last year.