In a dramatic turn of events at the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Hong Kong Open, Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori has secured his spot in the men's singles final. Nishikori advanced after his Chinese mainland opponent, Shang Juncheng, retired from the semifinals due to persistent fever.
The first set showcased a tight battle, with both players holding their service games. Nishikori took a 4-3 lead, but Shang struggled with his health, ultimately deciding to retire before the second set.
Speaking to reporters, Shang explained, \"When I woke up this morning, I felt terrible with my whole body. I felt the same yesterday and I didn't know how I won that match. I felt uncomfortable the whole time on the court. Today, I thought I reached my limit. If I continued to force my way, it could damage both my body and future competitions. I talked to my team and we decided that I would retire if I didn't feel well.\"
Nishikori expressed his sympathy for Shang, stating, \"I feel bad that my opponent retired because of discomfort. He performed well even in such poor condition. I don't know what to say except to wish him a quick recovery so he can appear in the Australian Open.\"
Looking ahead, Nishikori is set to face French player Alexandre Muller in the final. Muller secured his place by overcoming Spain's Jaume Munar with a score of 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in the other semifinal match.
Reference(s):
Kei Nishikori makes Hong Kong Open final after Shang Juncheng retires
cgtn.com
