Kei Nishikori extended his Memphis Open reign on Sunday, defeating Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4 to win his third straight title at the ATP hard-court tournament.
The top-seeded Japanese captured his eighth ATP crown, and his first since he won in Tokyo in October.
That was one of two titles Nishikori captured late last year after a breakthrough run to the final of the US Open.
It feels great. I think I’m going to move here soon
This year, the world number five hadn’t made it to a final until this week, but a return to Memphis proved the tonic he needed.
“It feels great,” said Nishikori, who became the first man to win three straight titles at Memphis since the tournament began in 1975. “I think I’m going to move here soon.”
His win over the second-seeded Anderson, in 75 minutes, was his most complete performance of the week, and his first match of the tournament in which he captured the opening set.
“I returned really well,” Nishikori said. “I felt a lot of confidence and played a lot of deep balls to put pressure on him. I played almost perfect today.”
Nishikori took charge in the second with a break for a 3-2 lead, coming up with a running backhand down the line passing shot on break point.