Tennis: Japanese teenager Nishikori stuns Blake to take title

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

DELRAY BEACH, Florida (AFP) — Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori stunned American top seed James Blake 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday to win the ATP title here.

The 18-year-old, ranked 244th in the world, claimed his first career crown and became the first Japanese man to win a tour event since Shuzo Matsuoka in Seoul in April 1992.

Nishikori, who had to qualify to get into the main draw of the 411,000-dollar hardcourt tournament, was playing in his first ATP final.

He has been based in Florida since he began training at the Bollitierri Academy at the age of 14.

"Last night I tried to imagine winning the final, but I couldn't do it," Nishikori admitted. "I was so nervous in the first set. During the second set I started to feel more confident.

"This is...