French Open: "I Feel Like I've Played Five Matches," Says Kei Nishikori After Winning Five-Setter Against Karen Khachanov

French Open: Kei Nishikori defeated Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a marathon five-setter to move into the third round.

Kei Nishikori reached the third round of the French Open on Wednesday having won back-to-back five-setters over a total of eight hours on court and admitted: "I feel like I've played five matches already." The 31-year-old needed four hours to see off Russian 23rd seed Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier. In the first round, he also needed four hours to beat Italian qualifier Alessandro Giannessi. "I feel like I have played five matches already. Trust me, I hate playing five sets. I don't do it on purpose," said Nishikori, a three-time quarter-finalist in Paris. The statistics tell a different story. After also playing two five-setters in his only two matches at the 2020 tournament, he now has a record at the French Open of nine wins and two losses over the full distance.