Kei Nishikori (31 = Nissin Foods), the world’s 40th largest Japanese ace, has defeated the world’s largest giant. At 211cm tall, he beat Opelka (USA), which is the longest in the top 100 and ranks 39th, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the second round, he will face Goffin (Belgium), who is in 14th place.

With a height difference of 33 cm and a service speed of about 50 km, Nishikori managed to win. “I didn’t feel like I was playing a tennis match from start to finish,” he laughed bitterly at the rally, which he was barely good at.

In the first set I could not return the ball because it cost me a lot to serve the rival at almost 230 km / h. “There was no response (breaking the opponent’s service game).” They beat me by leaving my service game once.

However, after the second set, “Suddenly, there were two break opportunities.” Make sure of those two times and don’t give up your service game after the second set. He won a close battle with only one point difference in total points won.

◆ The Dubai Championships will be distributed on WOWOW on demand from March 14-20.