MEMPHIS OPEN:
Querrey and Nishikori move into quarterfinals.
American Sam Querrey underwent knee surgery in November and missed two months while recuperating, so if he’s had a slow start to the season it’s understandable.
But the 2010 Mem- phis Open champion, the tournament’s No. 4 seed, appeared closer to regaining the form that carried him into the world’s top 20 f ive years ago during Wednesday’s 6-3, 6-4 s e cond-rou nd v ic tor y over Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen.
Querrey, 28, playing in his ninth straight Mem- phis tournament, served effectively, moved effortlessly and needed only a few games to solve Laaksonen, who broke Querrey’s serve to open the match but rarely threatened afterward.
“I ’m pret t y happy,” Querrey said. “It was pretty much one break each set and I thought I played pretty solid.”
Querrey was joined in the quarterfinals by top seed and three-time defending champion Kei Nishikori, who beat American Ryan Harrison 6 -2,
When, where: Through Sunday, The Racquet Club
What: An annual stop on the ATP World Tour
Tickets: memphisopen.com or 855-307-1981
7-5. Also advancing to the final eight were Mikhail Kukushkin and qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka. Americans Steve Johnson and Donald Young, the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, play their first matches of the tournament today.
Nishikori, attempting to join Jimmy Connors as a four-time Memphis champion, had difficulty closing out his straight-set victory over Harrison, but he had few complaints otherwise. Nishikori’s win was his 14th straight at The Racquet Club.
“Actually (I was) playing very good, very solid today,” Nishikori said. “Last two games were a little bit (of a) struggle, but other than that, I was playing good tennis. Usually I struggle (the) first couple rounds here, so I think this is the best start so far. So (I’m) very happy.”
For Querrey, Laaksonen was a bit of a mystery. He had qualified by winning two matches last weekend, and he beat Matthew Ebden in the first round Tuesday.
“It’s tough when you haven’t played the guy before,” Querrey said. “It takes a little while to feel it out.
“He plays right on the baseline and really goes for it. In the first game, he hit two or three big returns off my serve. He doesn’t slap at the ball, but he takes his cuts, so you have to feel out which side is stronger, where he likes the ball and I felt like I tried to get it out of his (comfort zone) with some higher, loopy balls. I felt that was pretty effective.”
After Laaksonen stunned Querrey in the opening game, Querrey recovered. He lost only two points on his ensuing four service games to win the set. In the second set, Querrey faced two break points serving at 2-3 (he saved both), broke Laaksonen to take a 5-4 lead and served out the set with two aces, including an 118-mph effort on match point.
“I thought I served well,” Querrey said. “In that first game I may have gone with too many sliders wide instead of going (up the middle) at 130 mph, where, even if you’re there on those it’s hard for anyone to catch up to it.
“After that first game, I just moved the ball around the (service) box a little better, on first and second serves. That’s key for me.”
Querrey, ranked 58th, has seven career titles, but only one since 2011. He reached two finals last year before undergoing his first knee surgery in the fall.
Wednesday was only his fourth match of the year and his first since a shaky start to the year. The first month was trying as Querrey withdrew from the tournament in Brisbane with a knee issue and retired late in his first-round match in the Australian Open.
“I went down to Australia after a week or so of practicing (in the U.S.), which is tough, but I still felt good,” Querrey said. “This is kind of the first tournament where I feel like, ‘Hey, I’m 100 percent and ready to go.’ I’m looking at it like that.”
Despite the fact the first few weeks back were somewhat difficult, Querrey wouldn’t alter his schedule if he had to plan it again.
“I definitely had to learn to trust again in my ability to plant and push off again, but it feels fine,” he said. “I think from the time the doctor says you’re ready to go, it takes at least a full month, at least a handful of tournaments, before you trust it.”