ATP Tour

Quinn earns highest-ranked win of career in Houston, Nishikori advances

Ethan Quinn’s first clay-court match on the ATP Tour was a memorable one.

The 21-year-old defeated World No. 35 Jordan Thompson 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday, earning the highest-ranked win of his career at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship.

“That was a unique experience, my first one on clay. Not too comfortable out there. There are a few slips and a few almost falls,” said Quinn, who is competing in Houston at a career-high No. 130 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

“To get through that one, not on the floor, but also against a really tough opponent in Jordan — he beat me when I was a little bit younger just on Tour at a Challenger. To get revenge a little bit felt really good, but also to get one on clay and start the clay-court season.”

The wild card saved nine of the 13 break chances he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and will next play American qualifier Colton Smith, a standout senior at the University of Arizona. Smith defeated Quinn earlier this season at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Cleveland, overcoming the 2023 NCAA singles champion 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round. Smith went on to win the title.

The 22-year-old Smith, who is also competing at a career high (No. 200) this week, cruised past Australian James Duckworth 6-2, 6-2 in opening-round action at the ATP 250.

In other Houston action, Kei Nishikori claimed his eighth tour-level win of the season by racing past American Mitchell Krueger 6-4, 6-2 in a dominant display under the lights.

"I served really well today, I think that was the key to winning like this today," said Nishikori, who won 77 per cent of his first-serve points. "Overall, I played pretty well. I think I'm pretty happy with every shot, every moment."

Nishikori is making his third appearance at the clay-court event and first since reaching the final in 2011. One win shy of his 450th tour-level victory, the Japanese star will next face Christopher Eubanks.

The 28-year-old Eubanks and fellow American Mackenzie McDonald advanced with three-set wins. Eubanks defeated Rinky Hijikata 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in a rematch of their first-round clash last year at the same event. Eubanks and Hijikata are now level at 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

McDonald outlasted Daniel Elahi Galan 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4 to set a second-round clash against fourth seed Brandon Nakashima. The 29-year-old McDonald will test his perfect 4-0 record against Nakashima.

Watch Extended Highlights from Tuesday's action in Houston: