Tokyo, Japan (SportsNetwork.com) - Kei Nishikori thrilled the home crowd by upending No. 3 seed Milos Raonic in three sets to win his second Japan Open Tennis Championship.
The fourth-seeded Nishikori was a 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4 winner in his third consecutive final appearance. The Japanese native lost to Marin Cilic in the U.S. Open final before beating Julien Benneteau last week in Kuala Lumpur.
"It's the first time I have won a title two weeks in a row," Nishikori said. "After the US Open, it was hard to maintain my motivation. I had to stay strong and focused, especially this week when I wasn't feeling 100 percent."
The hard-serving Canadian Raonic had 22 aces, but failed to break serve in the decisive third set.
This was also a rematch of the 2012 Tokyo finale, which Nishikori also won in three sets. Raonic failed to title in Japan despite reaching the final match three years in a row.
"It is disappointing to lose in my third straight [Tokyo] final. To be honest with you, other than the first year [2012] I felt I created my opportunities," Raonic said. "Against Kei, he just played better when it came down to the third set [in 2012]. I have felt I have always been in the thick of things the past two years, so I would say two years ago was more disappointing."
Nishikori, who is 4-1 against Raonic in five career meetings, improved to 7-4 lifetime in finals with a 4-2 mark this year. The 24-year-old collected $296,850 for the title.
