Kei Nishikori reached his first Masters Series semi-final with a commanding 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov on Friday, underlining his imminent status as Japan's highest-ranked player ever on the ATP Tour. Awaiting the high-flying Asian star in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals is world number four Andy Murray, who comfortably ended Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden's dream run with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 victory in the Qi Zhong Stadium.
The flame was carried to the podium by three-time Paralympic shooter Taguchi Aki. It was a special moment for Taguchi, as it came 106-days after she lit the celebration cauldron when the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay was re-started in Fukushima on March 25, this year.
For over three-quarters of a century men's tennis in Japan has played out like a kabuki tragedy, filled with decades of barren results, embarrassments and even a suicide.
There comes a moment in all great sporting careers when the puzzle fits together and for Kei Nishikori it arrived on a sweltering early September afternoon in New York.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances