Kei Nishikori in Montreal

Kei Nishikori staged a remarkable comeback to defeat 19-year-old Alex Michelsen 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the first round of the National Bank Open in Montreal, marking his first victory at the ATP Masters 1000 level since 2021. The 34-year-old former World No. 4, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, expressed his joy at the win, particularly praising his performance in the decisive third set. Nishikori's victory sets up a second-round clash with eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, with the two players having split their previous encounters. In other tournament news, Canadian Milos Raonic withdrew due to a shoulder injury, further highlighting the challenges faced by past Grand Slam finalists. Nishikori's win signifies a potential resurgence as he continues to compete in his fifth tournament of the year, showcasing improved performance against a higher-ranked opponent.