Japan Open Tennis Championships 2014: Daily Scores, Results and Draw Schedule

The Asia swing is always a fascinating section of the tennis calendar, and after the conclusion of both the Shenzhen and Malaysian Opens, attention turned to Japan for the next installment. With a host of elite names set to take to the court at the Ariake Colosseum we were in store for a week of encapsulating action.

For the Japanese spectators the star attraction was undoubtedly be Kei Nishikori, who played in front of his home supporters for the first time since his wonderful run to the U.S. Open Final. 

Nishikori became the first ever home-grown champion at this event when he won in 2012, and after his triumph over Julien Benneteau in the final of the Malaysian Open last time out, he was a player that’s clearly in sparkling form. After his most recent victory, the Japanese superstar spoke of his eagerness to perform in front of his home supporters, per sports.yahoo.com:

"

It wasn't my best tennis, but I'm really happy to come away with the win in this tough game.

It's really an honour to have won this tournament. It's not even in my country and so many people showed up. I want to do well in my next tournament in Japan after this.

"

But the world No. 7 was only seeded fourth for this one, and that’s a measure of the calibre of player we can look forward to watching on the hard courts in Japan.

Stanislas Wawrinka was the top seed coming into the tournament, and he was hoping to secure a victory that’d give him an excellent chance of qualifying for the ATP World Tour finals. The Swiss entered Japan currently ranked No. 4 in the world, and a third win of the year would have surely cement his spot in the top eight ahead of the end-of-season showpiece in London.

David Ferrer was seeded second for this championship and was looking to bounce back from a disappointing showing in Shenzhen. He was seeded first in China and was widely expected to march to the final, but the Spaniard was dumped out at the quarter-final stage by Viktor Troicki. 

Ferrer was hoping to roll back the clock and put together a run comparable to the one that saw him win this competition back in 2007.

Milos Raonic was another player who was hoping to impress on the Tokyo courts and he must have had bittersweet memories of this competition after his display in 2013. The Canadian was superb in his run to the final last time out, but he was bested by Juan Martin del Potro at the final hurdle; Raonic was also a runner-up at this competition in 2012. Perhaps it'll be a case of third time lucky for the world No. 8?

The 2009 champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is also in attendance, and he’s a extremely dangerous player that’s capable of beating anyone on his day.

All statistics courtesy of atpworldtour.com

Day 7: Kei Nishikori Claims Second Japan Open Title

Koji Sasahara/Associated Press

Day 7 Results:

Singles - Final

[4] Kei Nishikori defeated [3] Milos Raonic 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4

Doubles - Final

Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Michal Przysiezny defeated [2] Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo6-3, 6-7 (4), 10-5

Kei Nishikori beat Milos Raonic for the third time this season on Sunday, triumphing over the Canadian in tense fashion to claim his second Japan Open title.

This achievement is a repeat of the pair's Tokyo battle from two years ago, Nishikori the first two-time champion of the Japan Open since Pete Sampras.

He would go through his share of hardship against Raonic, however, claiming the first set via tiebreak and manging to claim just one ace in total while his opponent forced through 22.

After suffering a second-set loss, however, Nishikori held his nerve to break Raonic in the 10th game of their third set, overcoming the odds once again to claim another morale-boosting title.

It continues what's been a great year for the Japanese native already, building on the success of his Kuala Lumpur win last week and again showing great recovery from his loss to Marin Cilic in the final of the U.S. Open.

However, Raonic will be left dismayed after losing his third Japan Open final in as many years, speaking to the official ATP World Tour website after this most recent defeat:

"

It is disappointing to lose in my third straight [Tokyo] final. To be honest with you, other than the first year [2012] I felt I created my opportunities. Against Kei, he just played better when it came down to the third set [in 2012]. I have felt I have always been in the thick of things the past two years, so I would say two years ago was more disappointing.

"

The result also helps put Nishikori in good stead for an appearance at the ATP Finals in London at the end of this season, five of the eight places remaining up for grabs.

Raonic is currently eighth in the pecking order in that respect and has Andy Murray chasing down his 175-point advantage as 2014 draws to a close.

Day 6: Kei Nishikori Sets Up Japan Open Final with Milos Raonic

Koji Sasahara/Associated Press

Day 6 Results:

Singles—Semi-Finals:

Kei Nishikori defeated Benjamin Becker 4-6, 6-0, 7-6

Milos Raonic defeated Giles Simon 6-1, 6-4

Doubles: Semi-Finals:

Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Michal Przysiezny defeated Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen 4-6, 7-6, 10-7

Kei Nishikori edged closer to home glory at the Japan Open as he came from one set down to defeat Benjamin Becker and move into the final in an enthralling contest on Saturday.

The 24-year-old was yet to drop a set or even break a sweat heading into his semi-final with Becker, but the German quickly had him up against the ropes.

Becker had a chance to silence the raucous crowd early on in the opening set with a break opportunity in the fourth game, but Nishikori just about held on.

However, there was nothing the Japanese star could do in the seventh, as a devastating backhand from Becker say him take the opener 6-4.

You have to say that the 33-year-old thoroughly deserved his early lead, but it all seemed to succeed in doing was wake Nishikori up from his Saturday slumber.

Dropping just 11 points in the second set, Nishikori eased to a 6-0 triumph in the second set, before the third went all the way to the wire.

Becker had chances to win the set before it went to a tie break, but once there, he was no match for the Japanese player, who wrapped up a 2-1 victory in one hour and 47 minutes.

Nishikori’s stock has risen considerably in what’s been a coming-of-age season in 2014, and the Japan Open would cap a momentous year for the 24-year-old.

However, with Milos Raonic awaiting Nishikori in the final, nothing can be taken for granted.

Raonic fired his way into his third straight Japan Open final after breezing past Frenchman Giles Simon in the semi on Saturday.

After taking the opening set 6-1, Raonic found himself up against a very different Simon in the second, but managed to creep past him, 6-4.

It all sets up a repeat of the 2012 Japan Open final, and the Canadian told the ATP’s official website that he’s very much looking forward to facing Nishikori again:

"

Against Kei, it is something to look forward to. A lot of people here want it. I have to execute well and serve well, focusing on myself primary other than them. The same goes for Becker. It's something to look forward to and I want to reverse the result in the final here over the past two years.

"

Raonic lost last year’s final in straight sets to Juan Martin del Potro, but he’ll be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky on Sunday against the fans’ favourite.

Elsewhere, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Michal Przysiezny booked their places in the doubles final after defeating Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen 2-1 in a thriller.

Butorac and Klaasen took the opener 6-4 with some stunning tennis, and while they had chances to put the match beyond doubt in the second set, Herbert and Przysiezny came rallying back impressively.

A tie-break victory in the second set up a tense decider, and it could have swung either way.

In the end it was Herbert and Przysiezny that emerged victorious, and they’ll now play Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in Sunday’s final.

Sunday will be an explosive day of tennis, but the men’s final in particular will really catch the eye.

With both Nishikori and Raonic in incredible form, the Japan Open could well host an epic encounter as the trophy goes up for grabs.

Day 5: Kei Nishikori Continues His March on Home Soil

Koji Sasahara/Associated Press

Day 3 Results:

Singles - Quarter-Finals

Gilles Simon defeats Steve Johnson 7-6 (4), 6-1

[4] Kei Nishikori defeats Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-2

[3] Milos Raonic defeats Denis Istomin 7-6 (8), 6-3

Benjamin Becker defeats Jack Sock 4-6, 6-1, 6-4

Doubles - Semi-Finals

[2] Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo defeat [3] Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez 7-5, 6-3

Doubles - Quarter-Finals

[4] Eric Butorac/Raven Klaasen defeat Jeremy Chardy/Jurgen Melzer 6-2, 6-0

Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Michal Przysiezny defeat Jamie Murray/John Peers 6-4, 6-2

Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic are on a collision course to repeat the 2012 Japan Open final after each claimed victory in their Friday quarter-finals.

The home favourite beat Jeremy Chardy in straight sets, taking just 42 minutes to get the better of his opponent and advance to the next phase of the competition.

Tennis TV noted Nishikori's most recent win, showing that the Japanese native's serve in particular helped him ease past Chardy:

"

Scores on the Tokyo doors: @keinishikori hangs tough and outlasts @jimchardy in a tight opener http://t.co/6W5K6xqnW9 pic.twitter.com/ii2nVmw8N6

— TennisTV (@TennisTV) October 3, 2014"

His semi-final foe will be Benjamin Becker, who in the last Friday fixture made his way past Jack Sock after falling a set behind. Becker struck back to take the second and third while losing just another five games.

The German dealt well with pressure points against Sock most of all, saving eight of nine break points, per the ATP World Tour website, while also dominating in the aces count.

The other semi will be contested between Raonic and Gilles Simon, each of whom went to tiebreaks in their matches against Denis Istomin and Steve Johnson, respectively, but emerged triumphant.

Raonic has made it to the last two Japan Open finals in succession, Tokyo proving to be a hospitable setting for the Canadian, and once again he appears in good form.

Against Istomin, Raonic outclassed his opponent 15 aces to one and couldn't be broken down in this regard. He is yet to surrender a set at this year's competition.

Johnson, meanwhile, came undone largely as a result of his own mistakes against Simon, making four double faults and winning just 52 percent of his service points, paving the path for his opponent to proceed.

With Nishikori and partner Yasutaka Uchiyama withdrawing from the doubles competition, Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez duelled against Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in Friday's semi-final.

The top two seeded pairs saw out an unsurprisingly tense fixture, with Dodig and Melo eventually advancing by virtue of their first-service proficiency, per the ATP World Tour website.

Battling for the right to join them in the final will be the doubles of Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen against Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Michal Przysiezny, both sets of players winning their Friday quarter-finals.

Herbert and Przysiezny already claimed one major scalp by disposing of Bob and Mike Bryan in their tournament opener, and again the Europeans looked good as they knocked Jamie Murray and John Peers out of the running. Murray and Peers' challenge was made to look minimal in Tokyo as they won just six of a possible 42 return points.

Even that embarrassment was topped by Butorac and Klaasen, however, who dropped just two games in beating Jeremy Chardy and Jurgen Melzer, both of which came in the first set.

Only 36 points were played in the second set as Butorac and Klaasen cleared up their quarter-final in hurried fashion, and despite their status as fourth overall seeds, will be well aware of Herbert and Przysiezny's threat.

Day 4: Nishikori Brushes Aside Donald Young

Koji Sasahara/Associated Press

Day 3 Results:

Singles - Second Round

[4] Kei Nishikori defeats Donald Young: 6-4, 7-6(4)

[3] Milos Raonic defeats Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 6-3

Jeremy Chardy defeats [7] Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4

Denis Istomin defeats Michal Przysiezny 6-4, 7-6(5)

Doubles - Quarter Final

Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez [3] defeats Kei Nishikori/Yasutaka Uchiyama walkover

Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo [2] defeats Leander Paes 6-3, 6-2

Home favourite Kei Nishikori claimed his 46th win of the calendar year with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over American Donald Young on Thursday, overcoming a lacklustre opening to reach the quarter-final stage.

Nishikori, 24, is on course to reach the end-of-season ATP Tour Finals for the first time in his career with a good result this week, but must reach the semi-final stage to better his points total of last year.

Standing in his way will be Frenchman Jeremy Chardy who knocked out seeded South African Kevin Anderson in the course of Thursday's action in Tokyo.

Nishikori will need to improve if he is to do so, however, after an 88-minute slog against Young in which he offered up a set point opportunity during the second set tie-break.

The US Open finalist, aiming for his fourth World Tour title of the year, eventually took advantage of the American's high unforced error count to seal success on the day.

Elsewhere at the event, Denis Istomin set up a quarter-final with third seed Milos Raonic by overcoming qualifier Michal Przysiezny of Poland in straight sets. Raonic himself had comfortably come through a potentially tricky tie with Austrian Jurgen Melzer earlier in the day to reach an 11th quarter-final of the year.

The Canadian remains on course to maintain his fine record in Japan, having twice been a runner-up at the ATP 500 event in the past.

In Thursday's doubles action, third seeds Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez were the beneficiaries of a withdrawal to book a semi-final berth. In the last four they will now face second seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, who made light work of overcoming veteran Leander Paes and partner Rohan Bopanna 6-3, 6-2.

Day 3: Kei Nishikori Keeps Home Crowd Happy

Shizuo Kambayashi/Associated Press

Day 3 Results:

Singles - First Round

[4] Kei Nishikori defeats Ivan Dodig: 6-3, 6-4

Singles - Second Round

Benjamin Becker defeats Tatsuma Ito: 6-3, 6-3

Gilles Simon defeats Gilles Muller: 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-3

Jack Sock defeats Andrey Golubev: 6-3, 1-6, 7-5

Steve Johnson defeats Marcel Granollers: 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

Doubles - First Round

[4] Eric Butorac & Raven Klaasen defeat Dominic Inglot & Florin Mergea: 6-4, 6-2

[2] Ivan Dodig & Marcelo Melo defeat Daniele Bracciali and Edouard Roger-Vasselin: 7-6(2), 6-4

Rohann Bopanna & Leander Paes defeat Dominic Inglot & Florin Mergea: 6-4, 6-2.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Michal Przysiezny defeat Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan: 6-1, 7-6(7).

Kei Nishikori’s attempt to win a second Japan Open title in front of his home fans moved a step closer on Wednesday when he eased past Ivan Dodig in straight sets.

Nishikori, who is enjoying his best season on the ATP Tour following his recent run to the US Open final, advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph and will now play USA’s Donald Young.

In truth, the fourth seed was always in control against Dodig, creating seven break chances in the match, three of which were converted. By contrast, Dodig only threatened the Nishikori serve once, although he did capitalise on his sole opportunity.

Nishikori’s game in 2014 is aggressive, he attacks off both wings and uses a consistent serve to impose his game. Eighty percent of his first deliveries landed on Wednesday, providing the platform for victory.

Also in Nishikori’s side of the draw, Benjamin Becker took out Tatsuma Ito to disappoint the home crowd. Becker advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 victory in his second-round match and now faces Jack Sock in the quarters.

Ito will be kicking himself after leaking a series of double-faults throughout the encounter. Becker’s dominance was reflected by four breaks during the contest.

Sock, meanwhile, needed three sets and nearly two hours to see off Andrey Golubev 6-3, 1-6, 7-5. Golubev actually won more points in the match, but Sock performed when it mattered and managed to created double the number of break chances enjoyed by his rival.

Elsewhere, Gilles Simon staged a comeback to defeat Gilles Muller 4-6, 7-6(1) 6-3. Muller hit 15 aces but still faced 13 break points as Simon showed greater class from the baseline.

He now faces Steve Johnson in the last-eight, after the American also needed three sets to get rid of Marcel Granollers.

Nishikori remains among the favourites to take the title though, particularly with top seeds David Ferrer and Stan Wawrinka already out of the competition. Milos Raonic, the third seed, is Nishikori’s main threat.

All statistics in this article are provided via the ATP Tour's official website.

Day 2: Stan Wawrinka Suffers Shock First-Round Loss

Shizuo Kambayashi/Associated Press

Day 2 Results:

Singles - First Round

Tatsuma Ito defeats [1] Stan Wawrinka: 7-5, 6-2

Benjamin Becker defeats Jarkko Nieminen: 7-5, 4-1

Donald Young defeats Go Soeda: 6-4, 6-2

Jeremy Chardy defeats Rajeev Ram: 7-5, 5-7, 6-4

Michal Przysiezny defeats [5] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: 4-6, 7-5, 7-6

Jurgen Melzer defeats Edouard Roger-Vasselin: 7-5, 4-1

Gilles Simon defeats [6] Roberto Bautistaagut: 4-6, 7-6, 2-1

[3] Milos Raonic defeats Bernard Tomic: 7-6, 6-3

Doubles - First Round

Jamie Murray & John Peers defeat Steve Johnson & Jack Sock: 6-3, 5-7, 10-7

Kei Nishikori & Yasutaka Uchiyama defeat Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Treat Huey: 6-2, 6-4

[3] Marcel Granollers & Marc Lopez defeat Jamie Delgado & Gilles Muller: 6-2, 6-1

Japanese wildcard player Tatsuma Ito recorded the shock upset of the day, eliminating first seed Stan Wawrinka in the first round, 7-5 6-2.

The Australian Open champion struggled from the very start and seemed to reserve his worst play for the biggest moments, failing to save a single break point. His challenger, the number 103 on the world ranking, was obviously inspired by the home crowd on his way to the biggest win of his career.

The Swiss star looked sluggish, but in his post-match presser, he gave credit to his opponent rather than blame his own performance, via the ATP's official website:

"

It was not a good day at the office. He started well and then I was trying to come back in the match. First round matches are never easy. He played well, particularly at the end of the first set when he was very aggressive.

"

Wawrinka could have qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals in London by reaching the final in Tokyo, but instead, he'll now have to focus on the month of November to book his ticket.

He wasn't the only top seed forced into an early exit, however. Jo-Wilfied Tsonga also lost on Tuesday, at the hands of Poland's Michal Przysiezny in a three-set thriller.

The Frenchman won the first set 6-4 and looked to be on his way to the second round, but Przysiezny fought back to win the second 7-5 before taking the final set in a tie break.

Tsonga appeared to injure his wrist during the match and had to call on medical assistance in the third set. Up 5-1 in the second and 6-4 in the third, the injury clearly held him back as he allowed his opponent to claw his way back into the match. Both had match points during the tie break, before Przysiezny scored the deciding point, winning 11-9.

Gilles Simon continued the run of Cinderella stories, knocking out sixth seed Roberto Bautistaagut. Both men split the first two sets before the Spaniard was forced to retire down 2-1 in the third.

Milos Raonic comfortably survived his first-round clash with Bernard Tomic, riding a hot serve to a 7-6 6-3 win. The Canadian hit an impressive 22 aces, winning 89 percent of points on his first serve. Saving two break points and conceding none, Raonic looks like the best bet to win this year's Japan Open following the early exits of plenty of stars.

All statistics courtesy of Protennislive.com.

Day 1: David Ferrer Falls at the First Hurdle

Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

Day 1 Results

Singles - First Round

M Granollers (ESP) defeats [2] D Ferrer (ESP): 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

[7] K Anderson (RSA) defeats D Thiem (AUT): 7-6(5), 6-4

J Sock (USA) defeats [8] A Dolgopolov (UKR): 6-4, 6-1

G Muller (LUX) defeats F Delbonis (ARG): 6-3, 6-4

D Istomin (UZB) defeats [WC] T Daniel (JPN) : 7-6, 6-7, 5-7

A Golubev (KAZ) defeats [Q] P Herbert (FRA): 6-4, 6-4

S Johnson (USA) defeats [Q] H Moriya (JPN): 7-6(4), 62

Doubles - First Round

J Chardy (FRA) / J Melzer (AUT) defeats S Lipsky (USA) / R Ram (USA): 6-4, 7-6(6)

Second seed David Ferrer was the story of the day as the Japan Open got underway, as he was dumped out of the competition at the first hurdle by compatriot Marcel Granollers. Typically a doubles specialist, Granollers rallied from a set down to beat the No. 2 seed and in doing so inflicted the second shock exit for Ferrer in a week.

It's a defeat that'll open up this Japan Open draw, and you can bet the rest of the top seeds will have been delighted to hear a player of Ferrer's calibre is going home early.

But the Spaniard wasn't the only seeded player to fall out of contention on the opening day, as Alexandr Dolgopolov was comprehensively beaten by 22-year-old Jack Sock. The American—who is currently ranked No. 70 in the world—produced a masterful display and the winning scoreline of 6-4, 6-1 was an accurate reflection of his unnerving dominance.

Dolgopolov was seeded eighth for this tournament and typically enthrals spectators with his mercurial playing style. But Sock never allowed him to get into any kind of rhythm, and whenever the Ukrainian looked to conjure some magic, it never really came off.

South Africa's Kevin Anderson was the only seeded player to progress on the opening day of matches. He never really got out of first gear in this one and struggled for long spells spells against the dogged Dominic Thiem. But eventually the seventh seed had too much quality and emerged as a worthy 7-6, 6-4 victor against the Austrian.

Elsewhere in the draw, Japanese wildcard Taro Daniel was roared on by his home crowd but he failed to complete the comeback against Denis Istomin. Daniel was serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, but he lost three consecutive matches to hand the encounter to Istomin. And to compound Japanese heartbreak local qualifier Hiroki Moriya couldn't make it into to the second round, as he lost 7-6, 6-2 to Steve Johnson.

Gilles Muller booked his place in the second round after a comfortable victory over Federico Delbonis, while Andrey Golubev also notched a straight sets win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert. 

Results and statistics courtesy of atpworldtour.com

Schedule

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Seed	Player (Country)
1.	Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
2.	David Ferrer (ESP)
3.	Milos Raonic (CAN)
4.	Kei Nishikori (JPN)
5.	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
6.	Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
7.	Kevin Anderson (RSA)
8.	Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)

Seedings courtesy of atpworldtour.com

For full tournament schedule click here