By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 3, 2025
Kei Nishikori is ringing in 2025 by turning back the clock. The former World No.4 reached his first ATP semifinal since 2021 at Hong Kong, defeating Cameron Norrie 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to set a last four clash with 19-year-old Shang Juncheng (aka Jerry).
Shang defeated Fabian Marozsan, the man who toppled top-seeded Andrey Rublev in the round of 16, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“Long time ago,” said 35-year-old Nishikori, after taking out his third former Top 10 talent this week. “I’m very happy with my level, winning against top players. Physically I’m feeling good.
On to the semi-final pic.twitter.com/8ydxU2wCFo
— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) January 3, 2025
“I didn’t have any expectations coming into this tournament, I feel zero pressure. I know this is a very strong field. I’ve taken one match at a time and Jerry is a great player, so I have to stay tough.”
Nishikori is set to break back into the Top 100 for the first time since October of 2021 in next week’s rankings. He underwent left hip surgery in 2022, and has generally had bad luck keeping his body healthy. But when fit he can still dazzle – and the motivation is still there.
“Of course, I’ve had a lot of injuries, but I’ve never felt like I’ve finished,” he said last year at Roland-Garros in Paris. “I’ve never lost the motivation to come back.”
Alexandre Muller toppled fourth-seeded Arthur Fils in the lower half to set a semifinal with Jaume Munar, who upset second-seeded Lorenzo Musetti. No seeded players have reached the final four at Hong Kong.
