By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday, January 3, 2025
Kei Nishikori is embracing 2025 with remarkable vigor, harking back to his prime days on the ATP tour. The former World No. 4 has reached his inaugural ATP semifinal since 2021, showcasing his skills in a thrilling encounter against Cameron Norrie, prevailing with a scoreline of 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. His next challenge is a clash against the promising 19-year-old Shang Juncheng, affectionately known as Jerry.
In the quarterfinals, Shang Juncheng outplayed Fabian Marozsan, who previously shocked the top-seeded Andrey Rublev, with a comeback victory of 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Reflecting on his progress, the 35-year-old Nishikori expressed joy after eliminating his third former Top 10 player this week. “It’s been quite a while,” he noted. “I am thrilled with my performance against such esteemed opponents. Physically, I feel fantastic.
On to the semi-final! pic.twitter.com/8ydxU2wCFo
— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) January 3, 2025
“I came into this tournament without expectations, feeling no pressure. The competition is fierce, and I’m taking it one match at a time. Jerry is an exceptional player, so staying strong is crucial.”
With these performances, Nishikori is set to reclaim his spot in the Top 100 for the first time since October 2021. After undergoing left hip surgery in 2022, he has faced a tough journey with injuries. However, when he’s fit, his talent shines brightly—showing that motivation remains strong.
“I’ve encountered many injuries, but I’ve never believed my career was over,” he stated last year during Roland-Garros in Paris. “My drive to return to tennis has never waned.”
In the lower bracket, Alexandre Muller defeated the fourth-seeded Arthur Fils, securing his spot in the semifinals against Jaume Munar, who stunned second-seeded Lorenzo Musetti. Notably, none of the seeded players have made it to the final four in Hong Kong.
