Monday 5 December 2016 07:02, UK
Kei Nishikori made his first appearance in this year’s International Premier Tennis League to help the Japan Warriors get off the mark on Saturday.
In his home country, Nishikori inflicted a final set 6-1 drubbing on the UAE Royals' Tomas Berdych to allow the Warriors to come from behind and win 23-20.
The Warriors, hosting the first three dates of the IPTL, lost their opener and appeared to be heading for another disastrous result when Nishikori lost a men's doubles set alongside Fernando Verdasco against the Royals' Pablo Cuevas and Daniel Nestor.
Trailing 17-19 heading into the final set, Nishikori needed to beat Berdych by at least three games in order for the Warriors to earn a maiden win, and did just that.
But the Indian Aces remain top of the standings after a second consecutive win, as they pipped the Singapore Slammers 26-25.
The Aces' Thomas Enqvist lost a 'past champions' set against Carlos Moya but Feliciano Lopez levelled the scores by beating Marcos Baghdatis.
Tied at 20-20 heading into a final set decider, the Aces' Kirsten Flipkens overcame Kiki Bertens 6-5 after a tie-break.
Watch the IPTL on Sunday, live on Sky Sports from 5am.
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