ATP Challenger: Wu Yibing Tops Nishikori

In the second round of the ATP Challenger in Sarasota, a marquee matchup saw China’s Wu Yibing battle through three sets to defeat Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6–3, 3–6, 6–1, booking his place in the quarterfinals. Next, Wu will face Brazil’s Da Silva for a spot in the semifinals.

Wu has been steadily regaining form and improving his ranking in recent weeks. As the tournament’s top seed, he faced a seasoned opponent in Nishikori. Although 36 years old, the former Grand Slam finalist remains known for his refined technique and excellent movement. The two previously met at the 2018 Shanghai Masters, where Wu won the first set but was ultimately overturned by Nishikori. This rematch offered Wu a chance for revenge.

Wu started brightly, delivering a strong serving performance with an 82% first-serve points-won rate. From the baseline, he repeatedly opened the court with sharp angles, forcing Nishikori into a string of errors. Wu capitalized on gaps in his opponent’s rhythm, earned a key break, and took the opening set 6–3.

In the second set, Nishikori adjusted quickly—applying more pressure on the return and deliberately slowing the tempo to disrupt Wu’s attacking flow. Wu’s first-serve percentage dropped to 58%, and he was broken twice. With his timing fading, he struggled to mount effective counters and lost the set 3–6.

In the decider, Wu seized control from the outset. He cut down on extended rallies and increased his tally of free points on serve, cruising through the final set 6–1 to complete a 2–1 win and reach the last eight. The match lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes. With the victory, Wu earned 12 ranking points and moved up to No. 113 in the live world rankings.