Nishikori, Monfils advance at Gerry Weber Open
Jun 16, 2015, 7:18 AM
Kei Nishikori of Japan returns the ball to Austria's Dominic Thiem during their first round match at the Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, Tuesday, June 16, 2015. (Maja Hitij/dpa via AP)
(Maja Hitij/dpa via AP)
HALLE, Germany (AP) — Second-seeded Kei Nishikori won a close contest against Dominic Thiem of Austria 7-6 (4) 7-5 to reach the second round of the Gerry Weber Open on Tuesday
The Japanese saved nine of 10 break points he faced to set up a second-round clash with Dustin Brown of Germany.
No. 4-seeded Gael Monfils beat Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4, but No. 7 Bernard Tomic crashed out against Steve Johnson. The American had 12 aces in winning 6-3, 7-6 (4).
No. 8 Ivo Karlovic blasted 28 aces to overcome Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-7, (4), 6-4, 6-4.
Ernests Gulbis and Mikhail Kukushkin also advanced at the grass-court event, a tune-up for Wimbledon.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
