Rain Helps Kei Nishikori Avoids Roland Garros Upset
Kei Nishikori rallied to claim a hard fought victory over world number 67 Chung Hyeon at the French Open.
OMNISPORT
Kei Nishikori hailed the impact of a rain interruption after he scraped past Chung Hyeon to reach the French Open fourth round.
Having claimed the opening two sets on Saturday, Nishikori lost the third and was 3-0 down in the fourth when adverse weather conditions forced the players off.
World number 67 Chung levelled matters emphatically when he completed a fourth-set bagel upon the resumption of play on Sunday, setting up an enthralling decider.
However, Nishikori recovered to rescue the win - a Chung double fault ultimately handing the eighth seed victory.
"I think the rain helped me a lot," he said. "I was really down in the fourth set and mentally I wasn't ready.
"I knew I had to change something to beat him today, so I think I made some adjustments to make it a little better than yesterday.
"Mentally I was a little more fresh and physically, too.
"[I had] a little more energy in my legs. That helped me a lot."
Chung was keen to take the positives after coming close to a major scalp on his first appearance in the third round of a major.
"It's been a great experience in Paris," he commented. "I made the third round for the first time in a grand slam.
"Maybe I have more experience and I have to enjoy.
"I'm looking forward to another grand slam."
Nishikori plays Fernando Verdasco in the next round.