Yoshihito Nishioka came back from a set deficit–and from a five-hour rain delay–to outlast Jordan Thompson 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in the Atlanta Open final on Sunday.
The suspension came with Thompson three games from victory, leading by a set and on serve down 4-5 in the second. It’s safe to say that the interruption did no favors for the Aussie, who was seeking his second ATP title. Nishikori returned from the break in inspired form, dominating the second-set tiebreaker and never looking back in the third. The Japanese left-hander broke for 1-0 in the decider, saved four break points across his next two service games, and seized another break for 4-1.
From there it was all over and Nishioka finally got across the line at 12:37 am.
“This is an amazing feeling,” Nishioka said. “Today’s battle, it was huge coming back. I think the rain was very bad for [Jordan]. I just got some luck from the rain. At the end (I was) playing amazing. (It’s my) third title, which I couldn’t believe at the beginning of the year.”
The 28-year-old previously triumphed in Shenzhen (2018) and Seoul (2022). He is now 3-3 lifetime in ATP finals. Thompson’s lone trophy came earlier this season in Los Cabos; the 30-year-old is 1-3 for his career in championship matches.
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nice one, Nishi