Brilliant Nishikori claims Brisbane title

Kei Nishikori downed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the final of Brisbane International on Sunday.

BRISBANE (AFP) - Japanese star Kei Nishikori claimed his first title since 2016 when he downed Russia s Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

The Japanese star had not won a tournament since Memphis in 2016 and was hampered by a wrist injury the following year which forced a break from the 2018 tour.

He was runner-up in Brisbane in 2017 but went one better this year in a superb final.

Nishikori dominated his Russian rival throughout, despite a slight hiccup when one poor service game cost him the second set.

The second seed started slowly and went down 0-3 to the Russian.

But he recovered to break back and then seized the advantage at 3-3 when he broke Medvedev again, taking the first set in 42 minutes.

Nishikori was all over the Russian in the second set, his powerful and well-directed groundstrokes forcing Medvedev into errors.

Medvedev held on against Nishikori s multiple chances to break at 2-2 and 3-3 and took advantage of his opponent s poor service game to break ahead.

"I felt like in the second set I was a little bit, like waiting too much and I couldn t convert all the chances I had," the Russian said.

"And he did really well the last game, I mean the 4-3 game. He took the risk and he did well and credit to him for second set.

"I had so many chances and I thought I could win in two sets."

Any thought Medvedev would take the momentum into the decider proved wrong as Nishikori stormed to a 5-1 lead, eventually wrapping up the final in just over two hours.

"I realised I had to do something to win this match and I think I made a change really well," he said.

"I think I returned well -- that was the biggest key, I think. I was able to return very deep and I think I put him under pressure."

Nishikori said he was pleased with his form heading into the Australian Open, a tournament at which he has never progressed further than the quarter-finals.

"The main goal is to do well in Australian Open, but I m really happy that I ve been playing really well this week," he said.

"Even if I lost today, I think I was very confident, and some of the matches I played some of the best (players).

"So, I m happy to go in Melbourne, and I feel like it s one of my favourite tournaments there.

"I feel like I have much support and feel almost home there so I hope I can do well better than quarter-final."