Japan's Kei Nishikori admits he failed to get his rhythm going on green court after suffering 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-3 loss to Spaniard Bautista Agut
Japan's Kei Nishikori cuts a dejected figure after losing a point against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut during the fourth round match at Wimbledon yesterday. Pic/AFP
Japan's Kei Nishikori cuts a dejected figure after losing a point against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut during the fourth round match at Wimbledon yesterday. Pic/AFP
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Kei Nishikori yesterday admitted that he's just not a very good grass-court player after suffering a seventh first week exit in nine visits to Wimbledon.
The World No. 9 slumped to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-3 loss to Spanish 18th seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who booked a place in the last 16 for the second time.
For Nishikori, his sour relationship with grass goes on leaving him with just two runs to the last 16 in his career, confirming Wimbledon as his worst Slam.
Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut
"It's not easy. I don't have good results on grass. "I have got to work on it every year," said Nishikori, who has reached at least the quarter-finals of the other three majors. Nishikori has either retired or given a walkover at each of the last five grass-court tournaments.
Nadal advances
Rafael Nadal slugged his way into the Wimbledon last 16 with a bruising dismissal of Russian 30th seed Karen Khachanov. Nadal's 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win against Khachanov on Centre Court equalled the Spaniard's personal record of 28 successive sets won at Grand Slams, a blistering streak dating back to this year's Australian Open final.
The World No. 2 is in formidable form heading into only his second fourth round appearance in his last five visits to Wimbledon. He will face 16th seed Gilles Muller for a place in the quarter-finals.
Purav-Divij, Bopanna out
Purav Raja and Divij Sharan turned it around amazingly after losing the first two sets but eventually fell short.
Raja and Sharan had a match point at 6-5 in the deciding fifth set but could not convert and ended up with a 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6), 8-10 defeat against seventh seeds Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram in the second round.
Rohan Bopanna's campaign also ended after he and Edouard Roger-Vasselin suffered a 6-7(6), 3-6, 7-6(5), 3-6 defeat against Ken and Neal Skupski from Great Britain.
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