MEMPHIS — Kei Nishikori extended his Memphis Open reign Sunday, defeating Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4 to win his third straight title at the ATP hardcourt tournament. The top-seeded Japanese captured his eighth ATP crown, and his first since he won in Tokyo in October. That was one of two titles Nishikori captured late last year after a breakthrough run to the final of the US Open. This year, the world No. 5 hadn't made it to a final until this week, but a return to Memphis proved the tonic he needed. “It feels great,” said Nishikori, who became the first man to win three straight titles at Memphis since the tournament began in 1975. “I think I'm going to move here soon.” His win over the second-seeded Anderson, in 75 minutes, was his most complete performance of the week, and his first match of the tournament in which he captured the opening set. Nishikori took charge in the second with a break for a 3-2 lead, coming up with a running backhand down the line passing shot on break point. The drama wasn't done, however. Serving for the match at 5-4, he raced to a 40-0 lead, but Anderson held on for deuce. After the South African pushed a backhand long, Nishikori sealed the win on his fourth opportunity, when Anderson went wide with a forehand. Anderson, the world No. 15, fired 12 aces, but was broken three times as he endured his sixth straight ATP finals defeat. Cuevas stops Vanni Pablo Cuevas won his third ATP title Sunday by defeating qualifier Luca Vanni 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) in the Brazil Open final. The 32nd-ranked Uruguayan lost his serve at 4-4 in the third set but rebounded to force the tiebreaker and clinch the victory at the clay-court tournament in Sao Paulo. Cuevas has won all three singles finals he has played. His first two titles came last year, also on clay. Pliskova advances in Dubai Playing on her fourth continent in the last four weeks, Karolina Pliskova advanced to the second round at the Dubai Tennis Championships by beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-4 Monday. The 17th-seeded Pliskova reached the third round at the Australian Open, then went to Canada to play for the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup. After that, she reached the semifinals at a tournament in Belgium and then traveled to Dubai. Also, 11th-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic beat Monica Puig of Puerto Rico 6-1, 6-4 and 16th-seeded Peng Shuai of China defeated lucky loser Elena Vesnina of Russia 7-5, 6-1. CoCo Vandewegh was trailing Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 3-1 when the American retired from the match with a shoulder injury. In late matches, Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia beat Mona Barthel of Germany 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3 and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic downed Yuliya Beygelzimer of Ukraine 6-4, 6-2. — Agencies
