Kei Nishikori secured a hard-fought victory over Alex Michelsen in the first round of the National Bank Open in Montreal. The Japanese player, a former US Open runner-up, displayed resilience as he came from behind to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. This win marked Nishikori's first triumph in an ATP Masters 1000 event in three years, a significant milestone for the player who has been plagued by injuries in recent times.
Nishikori's last victory in a Masters 1000 event dated back to Indian Wells in 2021. Despite his struggles with injuries, he has shown determination to make a comeback on the ATP circuit. In 2016, he reached the final of the Canadian tournament, where he was defeated by the formidable Novak Djokovic.
Next up for Nishikori is a challenging encounter against the No. 8 seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas, in the upcoming round. Meanwhile, another player forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury was Milos Raonic. The Canadian, a past finalist in a Grand Slam event, cited a shoulder injury as the reason for his withdrawal before his scheduled match against the No. 13 seed, Holger Rune.
Raonic expressed his disappointment at not being able to compete, highlighting the difficulty he faced with his serve during warm-up. The shoulder pain he experienced in the lead-up to the match ultimately led to his decision to withdraw. Raonic lamented the missed opportunity to play in Montreal after a five-year absence, hinting that his return to the tournament in the future remains uncertain.
Among the first-round winners were the No. 16 seed, Karen Khachanov, and Italy's Lorenzo Sonego. The tournament in Montreal continues to showcase thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes as players strive to advance in the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event.
