Feliciano Lopez may have lost to an impressive Kei Nishikori at the Rome Masters first round but managed to bring the crowd to its feet with an impressive side-spin slice volley winner, after a brilliant rally on Monday afternoon.Nishikori, who is currently ranked world No. 24 in the ATP, recorded a hard-fought victory 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to advance to the second round.The 28-year-old has been on the comeback trail since reaching the final at last month's Monte-Carlo Masters, and faced 36-year-old Lopez in a bid to reach another final.Despite Nishikori's well-earned victory, it is the Spaniard's efforts grabbing the headlines, in particular his rather special side-spin slice volley following a long rally between the two, in which Lopez span the ball just over the net, and with the amount of spin he put on the ball, it actually span back towards the net.This brought a raucous cheer from the crowd at the Foro Italico and even the 36-year-old's opponent applauded the shot, with the commentators exclaiming: "What a shot! That's gone back into the net!" they shouted, jokingly adding: "That is one for the rocking chair years from now!"You can see in the video below just how difficult the shot was. 

Nishikori has done well to come back into winning ways, after suffering a five-month lay-off last year due to injury and also recorded a first-round defeat at the Madrid Open last week. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old has always been comfortable on the clay and has reached the French Open quarter-finals twice.

Meanwhile Lopez also lost his temper with the umpire after losing a 29-shot rally to Nishikori, when the ball appeared to bounce twice as the Japanese player returned it.

Despite the victor extending his stay in Italy this time, it was a moment of genius from Lopez that got people talking.