Nishikori cruises into second round

Japan’s Kei Nishikori cruised into the Wimbledon second round as the 12th seed crushed Australian wild card Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 today.

Nishikori last year became the first Japanese man to reach the third round at the All England Club since 1995 and he has set his sights even higher this time.

The world number 11, who in 2012 became the first Japanese male quarter-finalist at the Australian Open for 80 years, believes he can emulate Shuzo Matsuoka, who made the Wimbledon last eight in 1995, before losing to Pete Sampras, in Japan’s best men’s performance at the tournament.

Nishikori, who reached the fourth round at the recent French Open, before losing to eventual winner Rafael Nadal, was never troubled by Ebden and brushed the world number 110 aside in emphatic fashion.

The Florida-based star needed only one hour and 41 minutes on Court 14 and he next faces Argentine world number 84 Leonardo Mayer, who defeated Aljaz Bedene 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.