MONTE CARLO, Principality of Monaco, Apr 16 (AFP): Japan's Kei Nishikori fought back from a set down to see off Czech 12th seed Tomas Berdych on Monday and reach the Monte Carlo Masters second round.
In a battle of two former Grand Slam finalists, Nishikori raced through the final two sets to progress with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.
The former world number four, who is now ranked 36th, missed a large part of last season with a right wrist injury and started his 2018 campaign in American second-tier Challenger Tour events.
But he was close to his best against Berdych, despite making a slow start.
Berdych moved into a 4-1 lead en route to the opening set, but Nishikori moved into another gear and claimed four straight games to level the match.
The deciding set was even more one-sided, as two breaks to love helped the 28-year-old to his best win of the season so far.
Nishikori was playing in the tournament for the first time in six years.
Japan's Kei Nishikori celebrating after defeating Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych in their round of 64 tennis match at the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament in Monaco on Monday — AFP
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