Kei Nishikori v Thiago Monteiro Condensed Match | Australian Open 2025 First Round

Kei Nishikori v Thiago Monteiro Condensed Match | Australian Open 2025 First Round

not that easy just to clip it off your feet can see there he likes to jump on top of the Court D with there if there’s ball that comes in that’s got a little bit of time and space away and he’ll step inside the court and in that instant so you don’t have to be the biggest hitter on the tour but you can still for the former world number five just like that so that’s a that’s a point in case what’s the cor position needed so we don’t Taylor Fritz is a a big one for the problem solving oh that’s quality best forehand of the match Montero has taken his opportunity with a ripping [Applause] [Music] forehand oh he’s missed and all is Clay has come to the there mon Academy tennis early in his tenure take back just the right time too what a high quality so far in this opening set again [Applause] Mona that was that was unusual oh that must be so frustrating we know Roger hits with that that clay quarter shape off both wings but he certainly has thought about his approach against Nishikori last year was 72% so he’s up in a real critical number he did all the hard work great imagination and execution with a drop shot and missed the easy backand crosscourt playing here is exactly what he wants to see Nishikori do way behind the Baseline doing the defensive movement the Brazilians controlling the Baseline and when you got nishaki doing that explo might be getting to [Applause] [Music] that and this time getting to that effectively in control not his natural area of expertise at net but he certainly dealt with that backhand volley well [Music] that’s super outstanding tennis you can earn a lot of free points so this ser is really not a serve that actually gives you that oh he’s just found his range superbly Montero couple of set points for the Brazilian effective sery yeah two well plac first serves and he’s got it back to juice [Applause] oh great CT coverage Montero has just defended you know when you when you been borne up on the clay and you’ve actually played there for a long periods of time you got some legs you got you’ve got you’re prepared to actually feel the hurt and the pain in the legs as you’re going side to side [Applause] there high quality and he claims his first ever set in competitive tennis over kakori gets the approval from coacho always looking to get around and actually use that not in comparison on the other side of the court 73% so still [Music] was on here long way from behind the Baseline it allows to Shakura and again right here that little fancy shot a lob over the top would have won as well it’s a couple of right back into this contest [Applause] oh brilliant foram and he used the slce [Applause] backand can see these long rally as you can see where the ball is landing a couple of short takes complete control the minute the ball drops in that free Hitting Zone a great variety there by Montero [Applause] using that’s two pretty ordinary Drop shots he’s executed in this second set wasn’t the case in the first he used that shot so SM not too much asked of the first serve but well placed huge Point big forand been two hands and Under Pressure he holds oh the return of serve was excellent but so got one back but that this could be this could be a bigger moment he certainly doesn’t change his return position with the second serve does he mon oh good change of Direction control by nishori superb yeah no nerves in that forehand as mono serves to stay in the second set almost Freeze Frame there at 56 in the second [Applause] set yeah that’s such a clever return as the chip forand return to show right [Applause] amazing w big foram after heavy second serve oh that’s just clean clean as a [Applause] whistle two Monto oh that’s the best back at his head of the match and just at the right time Misha Cory Monto did the right thing here hit that slice came in cover the the line which he needed to do the opening was there but he knows this is his [Applause] moment 50% on the second winter with his favorite shot that backand down the line highest part of the net you can see there it’s right behind the ball just needs to get through the line [Music] s volley and he’s missed the overhead beautiful love though oh good quality return but he’s come up with a and he’s taking a strangle hold in this first round the second set in a break and a two sets to love Advantage just stretching well his last three Drop shots a couple in the second set [Applause] and that’s a short arm jet showing us some real class serving played on the limit slic up the line by nishaki shot here not that one there but he was able to hit the one that spread him wide on the backhand side and create all this these oh wow that is full on defense mode that he’s turned defense into attack very quickly in that point was right here with Nisha see this ball here this needed to be a backhand why would you run around your forehand and expose so much caught for the left-hander that was such a poor choice and I think iiz it [Applause] [Music] [Applause] up up up up up up up Marathon point and nishaki missed him the previous with the forehand but there was nothing to miss with that there’s a physical point there and you can see a lot of back hands from the Brazilian nury able to Target that area and then at the end there this was the All or Nothing ball nice 22 shot rally that was physical [Music] [Applause] [Applause] there you go easiest Point his one holding the love four times he’s been a quarter finalist but he’s under the pump here at down two sets to love and 2 three and as this set evolvers Evol the you know you your body needs to be robust enough oh B shot to handle and then 10% of matches so you need to be able to handle the volume that you need to load [Applause] [Music] [Music] here oh you have to admire the wheels of Tiago Montero just brilliant core coverage extraordinary but so you can see what here what how fit the Brazilian is right here that to generate speed like like that and to take away any opportunity from NY that was special hit with not much margin but it’s found the L Rel shakori oh it’s White Knuckles on the edge of the cliff time for nishaki is just hanging on get the ball out wide to the forehand of his opponent left-handed opponent and then use that backhand down the line that he loves he read the right wi it’s superb defensive tenis from mishak Cory pick the forehand of mono to recirculate the power and then put away the backand into the open court this is what he’s been able to do mono for the whole [Applause] match step in and go crunch a little bit further back as well give him a different look he’s dragged the backand wide and there’s the break for nishaki he’s knocked at the door and suddenly it is a jar in this third six BS please why not good ch J her body tactics brought it back from the brink saving a couple of match points and then converting point 75 in the third but mono leads by two sets to one in this first round match should shot making that got him back to third set I thought he had F drop away but he got away with one there they both poor let’s see here this drop shot well that was poor and I and Nish Cory had a chance to actually hit a proper forehand where he came over the ball big Miss [Music] [Music] oh great defense R Ono that was a punishing rally oh he’s Oh I thought he dragged It Wide but there was a bit of frame involved it’s caught the line how about that that is defense upon defense I don’t know if he got all of that as well I think that was a little bit of frame as well from here but you take it all David you pay for a racket you can use every part of it if you like they’re going to get some great data on where he’s at how is his body tracking how will it feel [Applause] 15 missing that over hit oh te off on the forehand gave himself r and went crunch well we’re see just fued his fuel tank a little here go breaking to love mishak Cory has got all the momentum now need to settle him down and is it will we see a a great use now of that you have the freedom to coach and speak to your player while they’re at your end of the Court openly off beforehand we’ve just had confirmation Mon’s call for the physio at the chain he’s certainly opening the shoulders on both wings [Applause] [Music] [Applause] going late to the backand and another great point it was so important for mono my belief is he’ll he’ll grind this out great adjustment to get that body backi the Brazilians had a he’s a mountain of work he’s a 14 [Music] [Applause] 15 I wouldn’t be working I’d be looking at getting this serving to send this match into a fifth it’s full of confidence at the moment and Shak is a pretty good record doesn’t he 28 night has listen a train set Nish and it’s going to a fifth set 62 in double quick time for K nishaki game point in the opening game of the fifth he can on the ball first [Applause] that’s and that’s a winning shot that back hand down the line been enough probably in this match but when nishori is able to do that the whole Court we can see how the whole ites up and you’re fully in control so natural for him to [Music] [Music] oh such a physical rally oh another punishing rally and he’s found it with his feet this is the the game is a our sport is a movement sport you need to be dynamic with your movement if you can if you can have that sort of type of footwork which nishaki relies on you get to execute your shots and this is best M overing the forehand laki breaks and leads two games to one in the fifth 15 Lo if it doesn’t gu his white here 15 low [Applause] [Music] he [Applause] both play on the limit I think his string is broken there yep from n Cory such a huge Point again mon has to do love 15 he’s closing in that’s wide and that’s a comeback enormous courage from kak 67 Japanese star has roll back the years at John Kane Arena and for the eighth time at the australi open he survived a five set Thriller great camaraderie between the two of the net Nisha Cory after making the final in Hong Kong the four times quarterfinalist at Melvin Park is through to the second round in spectacular fashion yeah and as you said the camaraderie at the end was superb from mon because he could have been very disappointed he was very respectful and I should give him a big round the I do [Music]

Watch the condensed match of Kei Nishikori v Thiago Monteiro in the first round of the Australian Open 2025.

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