By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 3, 2025
Kei Nishikori it is falling in 2025 turning back the clock. The former World No. 4 reached his first ATP semi-final since 2021 in Hong Kong, defeating Cameron Norrie 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a last four match with the 19-year-old Shang Juncheng (aka Jerry).
Shang defeated Fabian Marozsan, the man who knocked out top seed Andrey Rublev, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the round of 16.
“A long time ago,” said the 35-year-old Nishikori, after fielding his third former Top 10 talent this week. “I am very satisfied with my level, winning against the best players. Physically I’m feeling good.
For the semi-finals pic.twitter.com/8ydxU2wCFo
— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) January 3, 2025
“I had no expectations coming into this tournament, I feel zero pressure. I know this is a very strong field. I took it one match at a time and Jerry is a great player so I have to stay tough. “
Nishikori is set to return to the Top 100 for the first time since October 2021 in next week’s rankings. He underwent left hip surgery in 2022 and has generally had bad luck keeping his body healthy. But when he’s fit, he can still dazzle – and the motivation is still there.
“Of course, I’ve had a lot of injuries, but I’ve never felt like I’m done,” he said last year at Roland-Garros in Paris. “I never lost the motivation to come back.”
Alexandre Muller knocked out fourth seed Arthur Fils in the bottom half to set up a semi-final with Jaume Munar, who defeated second seed Lorenzo Musetti. No top seed has reached the final four in Hong Kong.
