“Unlucky” Yoshihito Nishioka talks meltdown, game penalty in Cincinnati loss to Hubert Hurkacz

CINCINNATI—Things went from bad to worse for Yoshihito Nishioka as he failed to convert a one-set lead against Hubert Hurkacz, incurring multiple penalties for ball abuse—including a game penalty—en route to a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 defeat at the 2024 Cincinnati Open.

The 28-year-old fan favorite known affectionately as “Yoshi” was looking to snap a 10-match losing streak against Top 10 opposition on Court 3, and appeared in pole position to do so when he stood four points from victory in the second-set tiebreaker.

“Until the middle of the second set, he looked a little bit tired,” the world No. 52 told me after the match. “He was having some problems with his back. He wasn’t playing his best tennis, and I could see that, so I maybe had a chance to win today.

“In the very important points, he played amazingly and maybe got some luck. I had 19 break points and I only won 10%, which is unusual. To be honest, I got a little bit unlucky today.”

His frustration at that bad luck boiled over when he fell behind a break in the final set, hitting multiple balls into the stands to incur a point penalty from umpire Aurélie Tourte. Another instance of ball abuse triggered a game penalty and a double-break deficit, and Nishioka spent the ensuing changeover sat behind the court monologuing to his team.

“I was already frustrated before the tiebreak,” he explained. “In the third set when he broke me, and I felt like everything went to him and nothing to me. I played ok, but everything went to him, so that’s where the frustration was coming from.”

I’m very sorry to my fans: I showed my best tennis until the second set when I couldn’t. Hopefully, there’ll be some luck to me at the US Open. Yoshihito Nishioka

A former world No. 24, Nishioka was apologetic for his behavior, hoping to take positives from his week at the Lindner Family Tennis Center into the US Open, where he has not won a match since 2019.

“I had a lot of support here and in the U.S. as well, and in my home country,” said Nishioka. “I had a good result here, beating [Miomir] Kecmanovic, who is a great player. I had good play against Hubi in our first meeting, but in the third set, I tanked a little bit.

“I’m very sorry to my fans: I showed my best tennis until the second set when I couldn’t. Hopefully, there’ll be some luck to me at the US Open. I think my feel in tennis is better and better each day. I have to take care of my body a little bit and get ready for the US Open. I think I can play good tennis there.”