Step up year for Nishikori

Written by: Staff on 4th January 2013

Brisbane International tennis tournament

Step up year for Nishikori

epa03523648 Kei Nishikori of Japan returns to Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine during their quarterfinals match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 04 January 2012 EPA/DAN PELED AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

BRISBANE – At some point in the future, someone is going to break down the high wall that men’s tennis’ ‘Big 4’ of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have constructed, but that point in time may not come in the 2013 season.

However, it is possible that one of the talented member of the newer generation could break through this season. Japanese fans are hoping that player will be Kei Nishikori, who has his best season ever in 2012, ending the year in the top 20 for the first time.

He’s very fast, has lethal forehand, a very good return and solid backhand. But while he has already become Japan’s best male player ever, he’s of slight stature and being able to trade big blows with the powerful and relentless Big 4 will admittedly be a huge challenge.

And it’s not just the 23 year old Nishikori who needs to show he can play at super elide level. Other younger players such as Canadian Milos Raonic Australian Bernard Tomic, Ukrainian Alex Dolgopolov and Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov also need to show they have another level in them.

“Raonic is almost there, almost to top 10,” said Nishikori after his quarterfinal victory over Dolgopolov at the Brisbane International. “For me, I haven’t beat those guys yet, top four guys. It’s important to play with those guys and to try to win. That’s big step for us.”

There are number of factors that separate the younger group from the Big 4, but primarily, the reason why none of them have been able to make a huge breakthrough as of yet is because they are not refined all around players. Yes, mental toughness also means a great deal. Yes, being able to read foes’ serves like a brain surgeon like all of the Big 4 can do is critical, as is the super elite’s superior movement. But it’s combining all those elements with penetrating strokes and keen game planning that makes top 4 so “Big.”

“Experience for sure,” Nishikori said when he was asked what separates his group from the Big. 4. “They really smart in how they play. They take all the important points and they have good accuracy of serves, good ace. If you can have a little more experience and a little more aggressive, then I think we have some chance.”

When Nishikori arrived at the Nick Bollettieri Academy in 2006, he experienced serious culture shock. “I didn’t know any words. I was scared of the Americans,” he said a couple of years later.

In 2008, he won his first ATP title at Delay Beach as an 18-year-old qualifier, becoming the first Japanese ATP title winner since Shuzo Matsuoka won Seoul in April 1992.

He chose to train in the United States in order to get better competition, and decided to attend Bollettieri’s, where he would end up rooming with Brad Gilbert’s son, Zach. Japan has sported a phalanx of fine women players during the Open Era (such as top 10ers Kimiko Date and Ai Sugiyama), but it hadn’t had any real impact male players since the 1920s, when it was an impact nation in Davis Cup.

The coaches at the Bollettieri Academy gave him nickname “Project 45″ which signified the ranking number he aimed to break, the highest that a Japanese male ever achieved.

Last year, he reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open and won Tokyo in the fall. He left that mark in the dust.

Even though he has yet to win a major he is an icon at home. Due to that status, in 2012, he signed a massive deal with the Japanese apparel company Uniqlo. He also has deals with Nissan, Wowow and Wilson.

If the world No. 19 manages to better his results this year, he may break the bank. He’s 23-years-old and it’ss time for him to peak.

“It’s going to be a big step year for me,” he said. “Try to get top 10 hopefully and stay healthy and stay strong. That’s the goal for this year.”

ends