Wimbledon: Kei Nishikori Digs Deep to go Distance
Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori, who needed his left calf strapped in the final set, triumphed over the world number 56 in a 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win on Court One in three hours and 22 minutes in his opening match of Wimbledon 2015.
Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori overcame a leg injury to reach the Wimbledon second round on Monday in a gruelling five-set win over Italy's Simone Bolelli. (Djokovic, Serena Star on Opening Day)
Nishikori, who needed his left calf strapped in the final set, triumphed over the world number 56 in a 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win on Court One in three hours and 22 minutes.
"I'm very happy to win the match today. I knew he was a tough player on grass," the Japanese said, before talking about his sore calf. (Hewitt's Wimbledon Farewell: Who Said What)
"It should be OK. I was a little bit sore from last week but it's getting better. It wasn't easy to play for three hours but I should be ready for the next one."
He will face Santiago Giraldo of Colombia on Wednesday for a place in the last 32. (Djokovic Fears Smear Campaign After 'Becker Signals' Row)
Nishikori withdrew from the semi-finals of the Halle grass court warm-up tournament with the calf injury while trailing Andreas Seppi 4-1.
The Wimbledon first round match was a case of history repeating itself for Nishikori and Bolelli who clashed at the All England Club last year, with the Japanese eventually winning in five sets.
That encounter gave Nishikori a place in the fourth round, the furthest he has ever been at Wimbledon.
Nishikori reached the quarter-finals of both the Australian and French Opens this year and doing so again at Wimbledon would top last year's achievement at the All England Club.
Nishikori, who became the first Asian male to contest a Grand Slam final at the US Open last year, has a good record in five-set matches, with his latest long-haul win over Bolelli giving him a record of 12 victories out of 15.
The 25-year-old was one of four Japanese men to start the main draw at Wimbledon -- the most since 1973 when there were five.
Qualifier Hiroki Moriya was beaten in straight sets by ninth seed Marin Cilic -- the man who defeated Nishikori in the 2014 US Open final.
Go Soeda lost in straight sets Monday to John Isner of the United States.
Qualifier Yuichi Sugita plays Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia on Tuesday.