Kei Nishikori is hoping to get off to a strong start in 2015.
“I had great preparation in Florida this off-season,” he said at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp on Tuesday. “I think the first couple of tournaments of the year are very important [in order] for me to gain a little more confidence.
“I want to do well in the Grand Slams, maybe get to a semi-final or a final if I can. Maybe win a [ATP World Tour] Masters 1000 title. That’s the next goal for me.”
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Japanese player Kei Nishikori meets ‘Tinkerbell’, an Australian koala, on the sidelines of the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Autralia, 06 January 2015. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
The Japanese star was speaking after cuddling a koala onsite in Brisbane. “They were so cute,” he said.
Last season, Nishikori lifted a career-best four ATP World Tour trophies and reached the US Open and Mutua Madrid Open final. He is hoping to carry the momentum into 2015.
“I have more confidence than before, especially [winning] two tournaments [in Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo] after the US Open and played great [at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals] in London, too. [I] had a great season last year.
Nishikori will begin 2015 with a meeting against Steve Johnson in Brisbane.
( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/01/1/Brisbane-Tuesday-Nishikori-Koala-Sanctuary.aspx?utm_source=ATPMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ATP%20World%20Tour%20Insider%20#1%20-%20January%208%202015%20(1) )
Topics: Atp, Brisbane International, Kei Nishikori, Tennis
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