Japan's Nishikori shocks Blake for first title

Teenager Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese player to win an ATP event for nearly 16 years when he shocked top seed James Blake in the Delray Beach International final last weekend in Florida.

The 18-year-old qualifier beat the American ranked more than 200 places above him 3-6 6-1 6-4.

After dropping the first set, the free-swinging Nishikori found his range on his service and groundstrokes, punishing Blake with a barrage of backhand winners.

Nishikori saved three break points in his first service game of the third set, then immediately broke Blake with a clean down-the-line backhand return that the American could not retrieve.

The young Japanese showed no nerves in the latter stages, serving out the match to love to claim the first title of his career.

Nishikori came into the tournament ranked 244th in the world while Blake was 12th.

"Last night, I tried to imagine winning this final, but I didn't do it," said Nishikori, after winning his eighth match in as many days.

Shuzo Matsuoka was the last Japanese to win an ATP event when he triumphed in Seoul in April 1992.