🎾 Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori is set to light up the finals of the Hong Kong Open after his opponent, Shang Juncheng of China, retired from their semifinal match on Saturday. The intense match at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region saw both players holding their serves, with Nishikori leading 4-3 in the first set before Shang had to step down due to discomfort caused by a fever.
Shang, showing true sportsmanship, revealed he had been battling a fever for days. \"When I woke up this morning, I felt terrible all over,\" he shared. \"I felt the same yesterday and didn’t know how I won that match. Today, I thought I reached my limit. Continuing could harm my body and future competitions.\"
Nishikori expressed empathy for his opponent, saying, \"I feel bad that Shang had to retire because of discomfort. He performed well even in such poor condition. I wish him a speedy recovery so he can compete in the Australian Open.\"
With this unexpected turn, Nishikori gears up to face France's Alexandre Muller in the final. Muller secured his spot by overcoming Spain's Jaume Munar in a thrilling comeback, winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. It's set to be an exciting clash—get your popcorn ready! 🍿
Reference(s):
Kei Nishikori makes Hong Kong Open final after Shang Juncheng retires
cgtn.com
