WASHINGTON — Getting his hard-court game in shape ahead of the U.S. Open, Kei Nishikori came back to beat big-serving John Isner 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday for his first Citi Open hard-court title.
The second-seeded Nishikori, the runner-up at Flushing Meadows last year, weathered 18 aces from the eighth-seeded Isner, a 6-foot-10 American who fell to 0-3 in finals in Washington.
For the third time in five matches, Japan's Nishikori dropped the opening set before turning things around to win in three.
It is Nishikori's 10th career title and third of 2015, when he is 43-9.