NEW YORK — Kei Nishikori will have quite a story to tell when he goes home.
The 18-year-old who began the season by startling James Blake became the first man from Japan in 35 years to reach the third round at the U.S. Open with a win Thursday.
Nishikori led Roko Karanusic 6-1, 7-5 when his Croatian opponent pulled out with leg trouble.
"I wasn't playing well today. But he retired, and I was just lucky," Nishikori said.
Next up for the world's 126th-ranked player is a sterner test — fourth-seeded David Ferrer. No man from Japan has reached the fourth round at this event since the Open era began in 1968.
Jun Kamiwazumi was the last Japanese man to make it to the third round, back in 1973.
Nishikori started the year with quite an upset, qualifying for the International Tennis Championships and then beating the top-seeded Blake for the title in Delray Beach, Fla.
Nishikori's parents were at Flushing Meadows to watch his latest victory. Now based in the United States, he plans to take a vacation back in Japan later this year.
"Sometimes I get homesick," he said.