Nishikori wins on return, Berdych ousted by qualifier

Kei Nishikori marked his return from injury with a win over the potentially tricky Dusan Lajovic, but Tomas Berdych was beaten by a qualifier in his opening match in Vienna.

Nishikori wins in Basel

Kei Nishikori made a winning return after three weeks out injured, beating Dusan Lajovic 7-5 6-1 in the Swiss Indoors first round.

The third-seeded Japanese got the prime match slot after the opening ceremony at Roger Federer’s hometown tournament which is missing the seven-time champion and Rafael Nadal, who ended their seasons through injury.

Nishikori, who retired with a glute muscle injury at the recent Japan Open, eased past the 77th-ranked Serbian Lajovic on Monday.

The 26-year-old Japanese star forced the first service break to lead 6-5 then reeled off three more breaks, and clinched the match when Lajovic’s defensive lob struck the ceiling of the court.

Top-seeded Stan Wawrinka opens on Tuesday against fellow Swiss Marco Chiudinelli.

Two-time Basel champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina got a wild-card entry and plays on Wednesday.

Berdych downed in Vienna

Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili has knocked second seed Tomas Berdych out in the first round of the ATP tournament in Vienna.

Basilashvili, who is ranked 107 in the world, produced a memorable performance to recover from losing the opening set and defeat world No.10 Berdych 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 7-5.

Ivo Karlovic, the eighth seed, did make it safely through as the Croatian beat Steve Johnson of the US 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Qualifier Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 6-3 5-7 6-0.

Russian wild card Karen Khachanov also progressed with a 6-4 6-4 win over Italian Andreas Seppi, while American John Isner saw off Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-4.