ATP MALAYSIAN OPEN: NISHIKORI BEATS BENNETEAU IN FINAL
Kei Nishikori of Japan clinches his first Malaysian Open title, becoming the first Asian to win the ATP World Tour 250 series tournament. Nishikori beat fourth-seeded Julien Benneteau of France 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the final at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The rising tennis star had already made headlines when he qualified to the recent US Open final, making him the first Asian man to make a Grand Slam singles final. Fresh from playing in his first Grand Slam final, the 24-year-old Nishikori claimed 72 percent of his service points in the final to wrap up victory in 1 hour 47 minutes. Fourth seed Benneteau took the lead 3-1 in the first set, but Nishikori fought back to force the set to tie-break, which he won 7-4. The world No 8 was more comfortable in the second set after going 4-3 up. Nishikori finally secured victory with a powerful serve. The Malaysian Open triumph is his third title of the year, following wins in Barcelona and Memphis , and the victory bo