KEI NISHIKORI: 2014 WAS ONE OF MY BEST YEARS

Written by: Staff on 19th November 2014

KEI NISHIKORI: 2014 WAS ONE OF MY BEST YEARS

epa04080238 Kei Nishikori of Japan hits a return shot to Michael Russell of the US in their semi final match in the US National Indoor Tennis Championships at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 15 February 2014. Nishikori won the match. EPA/TANNEN MAURY |

( Courtesy and original link of the ATP: http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/en/news-and-media/tennis/london-finale-2014-saturday-nishikori-reaction?utm_source=ATPMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ATP%20World%20Tour%20Weekly%20#40%20-%20November%2017%202014%20(1) )

One of the breakout stars on the ATP World Tour, Kei Nishikori surged into the spotlight in 2014, battling to the semi-finals in his first appearance at the season finale this week in London.

The first Japanese player to ascend to the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, the World No. 5 thrust Asian tennis into the forefront behind a boisterous backhand and awe-inspiring agility. With his stock soaring, Nishikori says he is not satisfied and his success only makes him hungry for an even stronger 2015.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their semi final match at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, Britain, 15 November 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN

“It was one of the best years for me,” said Nishikori, following a three-set defeat to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday. “Even though this was my first experience (in London), I think I did really well.

“I have to do well this off-season. I have to train well and stay injury-free again. I think I will have a lot of chances at the big tournaments… Hopefully I can have good preparation in December and (build) more confidence. I will start in Brisbane. It’s going to be very important to have a good off-season.”

Nishikori earned 18 more match victories than he accumulated in 2013, finishing with a 54-14 win-loss record. His four titles more than doubled his previous career total, hoisting trophies on the indoor hard courts of Memphis and Kuala Lumpur and at the ATP World Tour 500 events in Barcelona and on home soil in Tokyo. The first Asian-born player to reach a Grand Slam final, at the US Open, he has vaulted to ‘rock star’ status in his native Japan under the tutelage of Michael Chang and Dante Bottini.

Nishikori says he’s still improving and is edging closer to disrupting the stranglehold of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal atop the Emirates ATP Rankings.

“I think I’m getting really close. I beat Roger this year and also Novak, too. It’s not like I can’t beat them. So I think I’m getting close.

“I need a little more experience to get there. I think also you get more motivation when you get a higher ranking. For me also, I was really enjoying this year. So hopefully I can keep going like this next year. I’m physically getting stronger. I think it’s going to be very important I do well this December, train a lot, have good practice, try to prepare for next year.”

Topics: 2014, Kei Nishikori, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

November 19, 2014 at 1:46 pm

KEI #NISHIKORI: 2014 WAS ONE OF MY BEST YEARS – http://t.co/fwQGqA9aKp #tennis #ATPWorldTour @keinishikori #tennis2014 #ATPFinals