Thiem, Nishikori advance in Washington Open tennis

Washington, Aug 2: Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem and Japan’s Kei Nishikori on Wednesday advanced to third round of the Washington Open tennis championship.

Thiem, who is playing his first ATP World Tour 500 event as top seed, easily got rid of Swiss player Henri Laaksonen 6-3, 6-3 in 63 minutes, reports Efe.

In a match that was delayed by rain, Thiem lost just one point on his first serve and did not offer his rival any break points.

The 23-year-old Thiem is set to play against the winner between Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri and South Africa’s Kevin Anderson.

Nishikori, No. 2 seed, on the other hand, had to sweat to get past United States’ Dold Young 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5).

The Japanese player missed many match points in the third set, including two in the tie break, before he sealed the win after two hours and 28 minutes of contest.

Nishikori is set to play against the three-time champion Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who achieved his 15th straight win in the tourment at the cost of Slovak Lukas Lacko 7-5, 6-2. (IANS)