The American third seed, seeking his 11th ATP tour title and first Eastbourne last year, needed only 79 minutes to complete a 6-3, 6-4 triumph. "It was not easy," the 36-year-old Nishikori said after his first ATP tour victory in 14 months. France's 56th-ranked Terence Atmane upset sixth-seeded hometown hero Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes. Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the 2022 Washington winner, outlasted American sixth seed Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Venus Williams, 46, rolled back the years to win her doubles opener with Russia's Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-4 over UlrikkeEikeri of Norway and American Quinn Gleason.