Nishikori advances to Memphis final

AFP, WASHINGTON: Three-time defending champion Kei Nishikori advanced to the ATP Memphis final Saturday by beating US fourth seed Sam Querrey, setting up a title showdown with history-making teen prodigy Taylor Fritz.
Top seed Nishikori rallied to beat Querrey 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 for his 16th consecutive Memphis victory over four years while Fritz, an 18-year-old American wildcard in only his third tour-level event, ousted Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Fritz fired 17 aces in becoming the youngest American in an ATP final since a 17-year-old Michael Chang won at Wembley in 1989.
And he shattered the US mark for fewest tour-level events needed to reach a final, the 10 tournaments taken by Jimmy Connors and Andy Roddick.
After starting the week 1-2 in ATP play, 145th-ranked Fritz has won four matches and would crack the top 100 by taking the title.
"It feels incredible," Fritz said. "It's crazy what winning four tennis matches can achieve. I'm so happy."
Seventh-ranked Nishikori downed Querrey for the fourth meeting in a row, improving to 5-3 in their career rivalry by eliminating him in the semis as he did last year.
“It was a tough start for me," Nishikori said. "He was playing really good tennis, especially with his serve. He was hitting deep and flat and I was on defense all the time. I found my rhythm in the second set, was hitting balls deep and the tactics were working."

Nishikori advances to Memphis final

AFP, WASHINGTON: Three-time defending champion Kei Nishikori advanced to the ATP Memphis final Saturday by beating US fourth seed Sam Querrey, setting up a title showdown with history-making teen prodigy Taylor Fritz. Top seed Nishikori rallied to beat Querrey 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 for his 16th consecutive Memphis victory over four years while Fritz, an 18-year-old American wildcard in only his third tour-level event, ousted Lithuanias Ricardas Berankis 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Fritz fired 17 aces in becoming the youngest American in an ATP final since a 17-year-old Michael Chang won at Wembley in 1989. And he shattered the US mark for fewest tour-level events needed to reach a final, the 10 tournaments taken by Jimmy Connors and Andy Roddick. After starting the week 1-2 in ATP play, 145th-ranked Fritz has won four matches and would crack the top 100 by taking the title. It feels incredible, Fritz said. Its crazy what winning four tennis matches can achieve. Im so happy. Seventh-ranked Nishikori downed Querrey for the fourth meeting in a row, improving to 5-3 in their career rivalry by eliminating him in the semis as he did last year. It was a tough start for me, Nishikori said. He was playing really good tennis, especially with his serve. He was hitting deep and flat and I was on defense all the time. I found my rhythm in the second set, was hitting balls deep and the tactics were working.