Tokyo: Local hero Kei Nishikori began his quest for a third Japan Open title by thrashing countryman Yuichi Sugita 6-4, 6-1 to reach the last 16 here Monday.
Third seed Nishikori failed to hit the heights that took him to the US Open semifinals last month but still dominated his Japanese Davis Cup teammate, completing a one-sided victory with a fizzing backhand down the line after 81 minutes.
“I hoped I wouldn’t have to play a Japanese player,” said Nishikori, who last faced Sugita when they were juniors. “It’s a relief to win. It took me a while to get into it,” added the World No. 12, who won the last of his 11 career titles in Memphis two years ago.
Earlier, three-time Tokyo finalist Milos Raonic crushed last year’s runner-up Adrian Mannarino, the sixth seed taking a little over an hour to beat the Frenchman 6-3, 6-4.
The big-hitting Canadian, who has slipped from number three in the world to his current ranking of 20th after a poor run of form, fired 17 aces in a dominant display.
Canada’s Denis Shapovalov, who last year made unwanted headlines after smashing a ball at an umpire and fracturing his eye socket in a Davis Cup tie, bundled out seventh seed Chung Hyeon of South Korea 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
Elsewhere, France’s Benoit Paire beat Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) while Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki upset Dutchman Robin Haase 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-1.
