Australian Open Men’s Day 1

Injury-return veteran Kei Nishikori completed another great escape to make a winning start at the Australian Open on Sunday, with the Japanese overcoming Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3,

The fightback from two sets to love down into the second round at Melbourne Park by the 74th-ranked former US Open finalist came under a showcourt roof on an opening day rained out for much of the day by storms.

Skies finally cleared in early evening as officials rushed to get the programme caught up after tacking on the extra money-spinning day a year ago with cashflow likely the motivation.

Nishikori saved two match points on his way to victory while serving to stay in it at 4-5 in the third set.

The Asian hammered 23 winners during his return surge which ended after more than four hours.

“I almost forgot he had two match points. I tried to stay calm even though I was almost out of the tournament,” NIshikori said.

“I almost gave up. Match point and he was playing very good. First and second sets, he was on a roll. He almost deserved to win. But somehow, I fought back.”

The four-time Melbourne quarter-finalist hit his career peak 11 years ago when he got to the US Open final against Croat Marin Cilic.

Last week’s finalist in Hong Kong won his last tour title in Brisbane six years ago this month.

Sixth seed Casper Ruud needed to gather his skills to finally overcome good Spanish friend and stubborn opponent Jaume Munar, advancing to the second round 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

The Norwegian whose father Christian reached the Melbourne four round more  than two decades ago, held off his training partner at the Nadal academy with  48 winners .

He finally got a grip on proceedings with a double break in the fifth set, advancing after nearly three and a half hours.under the Laver stadium roof as the weather raged periodically outside.

“I got a bit lucky at the end,” the winner said. “The fifth set could have gone either way

“But I stepped up and played some good point when I had to.”

Ruud now stands 10-6 over his career in five-set matches; he next plays the winner from Czech Jakub Mensik or Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili.

Finn Otto Virtanen was unable to hold onto his opening-set success with 20-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils came back for a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-4 result.

Australia suffered a first loss of the fortnight as France’s Hugo Gaston put out Omar Jasika

Main photo:- Kei Nishikori winning first round match – by Pete Staples/ATPTour.com