Comeback king Alexandre Muller ends Kei Nishikori’s fairytale to lift Hong Kong Open title

Alexandre Muller (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: French professional tennis player Alexandre Muller claimed his first ATP Tour title by defeating Kei Nishikori in the final of the Hong Kong Open on Sunday. The match lasted 1 hour and 43 minutes, with Muller overcoming a slow start to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Nishikori, a 35-year-old Japanese player, started strongly by winning the first set in just 33 minutes. However, Muller regained his composure and won the next two sets convincingly. This victory marked Muller’s first ATP Tour title and a significant milestone in his career.
Notably, Muller became only the third player to win a tour-level title after losing the opening set in every match he played during the tournament, showcasing his resilience and determination.

In his post-match speech, Muller expressed his gratitude to the crowd for their support and acknowledged the incredible week he had, despite losing the first set in all his matches.
“It’s been an amazing week for me, losing the first set in all the matches,” he added. “I have no words, I’m sorry, I just won the match, but thank you everyone.”
He also praised Nishikori, describing him as an amazing player and wishing him luck for the rest of the season.
For Nishikori, the Hong Kong Open final was his 27th tour-level final and his first since winning in Brisbane in 2019.
The former world number four has been battling injuries, including a major hip surgery, and his run to the final in Hong Kong marked a significant step in his comeback journey.
Nishikori’s performance in Hong Kong, which included victories over seeded players like Karen Khachanov, Cameron Norrie, and Denis Shapovalov, will see him return to the top 100 in the world rankings for the first time since June 2022.