good friend Gael Monfils in Sunday’s final. The French showman returned to the final as he overhauled Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Nishikori suffered only his second loss of the season against 11 victories, which included the Brisbane title and a quarter- final run at the Australian Open.
Wawrinka, 33, won the first set from a 4- 0 lead, trailed 0- 4 as Nishikori levelled in the second before he broke in the final game of the third.
The Swiss world number 68 sent a stinging service return winner down the line to clinch victory, which comes almost a year and a half after he underwent two knee surgeries in the summer of 2017. “It’s a big relief to reach my first final since my surgery,” Wawrinka said.