Kei Nishikori downs Dominic Thiem in first round at Gerry Weber Open
![foxsports](https://b.fssta.com/uploads/application/misc/byline-generic-headshot.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png)
![](https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/640/427/168e2c09-061615-Tennis-Gerry-Weber-Open-Kei-Nishikori-PI-CH.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2020/02/1280/854/168e2c09-061615-Tennis-Gerry-Weber-Open-Kei-Nishikori-PI-CH.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x)
Second-seeded Kei Nishikori won a close contest against Dominic Thiem of Austria 7-6 (4) 7-5 to reach the second round of the Gerry Weber Open on Tuesday
The Japanese player saved nine of 10 break points he faced to set up a second-round clash with Dustin Brown of Germany.
Nishikori led 5-3 and wasted a set point before dropping his serve. He then had to fend off three set points before winning the tiebreaker.
Third-seeded Tomas Berdych defeated Victor Estrella Burgos 7-5, 6-3. Estrella Burgos double-faulted to deliver the first set to Berdych, who breezed through the second.
No. 4-seeded Gael Monfils beat Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4, but No. 7 Bernard Tomic crashed out against Steve Johnson. The American had 12 aces in winning 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Jerzy Janowicz beat sixth-seeded Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-4 and Andreas Seppi ousted Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-2.
No. 8 Ivo Karlovic blasted 28 aces to overcome Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-7, (4), 6-4, 6-4.
Ernests Gulbis and Mikhail Kukushkin also advanced at the grass-court event, a tune-up for Wimbledon.