MELBOURNE, Australia — Kei Nishikori made a noteworthy return to the Australian Open after a four-year absence, pushing through a challenging match against Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro. Twice during the match, Nishikori faced match points that could have prematurely concluded his tournament run in straight sets.

Determined to continue his fight, the 2014 U.S. Open finalist managed to fend off both match points, successfully holding serve in the 10th game of the third set. He then mounted a remarkable comeback, ultimately winning with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 after an exhilarating battle lasting just over four hours.

At 35 years old, Nishikori has endured a challenging few years marked by numerous injuries affecting his hip, ankle, and knee, which have kept him from participating in the last three Australian Opens. His victory in this match marked his fifth successful comeback in a Grand Slam after being down two sets. Nishikori now holds an impressive record of 29 wins and 8 losses in five-set matches, improving his performance at this tournament to 8 victories against just 1 loss. With optimism for his upcoming match, he shared his positive feelings, saying, “I’m feeling so good, why not?”

Leading up to the season’s first major, Nishikori had a good run in Hong Kong, reaching the finals, which he hopes will contribute to his success moving forward in the tournament.