It was not altogether convincing, but Kei Nishikori overcame a first-set wobble to beat Donald Young 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 on the opening night of the Japan Open on Monday.
Nishikori cracked at the worst time in the first set, dropping his serve and the set to his unheralded American opponent, who only got the call to play after the Japanese world No. 5's initial opponent, Spain's Nicolas Almagro, withdrew earlier in the afternoon with illness.
"I didn't start quite well today, I was missing too much, especially in the beginning," said Nishikori, who is aiming for his third singles title here, which would tie him with Pete Sampras for second-most behind Stefan Edberg.