After a long abstinence Kei Nishikori seems to be back at the top of world tennis and presented himself in great shape at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. What’s in it for the Japanese in the coming weeks?
Even if it wasn’t enough in the end and Kei Nishikori also got into the Nadal whirl, it was a successful tournament for the Japanese player in Monte Carlo. With a result and above all an insight that no one had expected on the tour.
Nishikosi is back. And how. Fast, lively, quick in thought and above all on a top physical level, the 28-year-old presented himself in the Principality and eliminated one top star after another. Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev are great names in the tennis circuit and were all defeated by Nishikori in one week.
“This week has given me a lot for my confidence. I played well and almost reached my highest level of performance again,” the Japanese player explained after losing 3:6 and 2:6 in the final against the now eleven-time Monte Carlo winner Nadal.
The tiredness after some strenuous matches was noticeable to Nishikori on final Sunday, the former US Open finalist also honestly admitted: “I accepted the situation well. My body, especially my legs were very heavy and tired. Playing three three-set matches in three days is hard. It wasn’t physically easy.”
Sympathetically and with the usual focus, Nishikori stood on the square in the Principality and enchanted the audience as at the best of times. The former top 10 player only returned three months ago after a wrist operation and returned to the top class of the ATP Tour after entering Challenger tournaments. However, the wrist is not yet fully developed. “I have to check my wrist every week. It’s not 100 percent yet; I have to take good care of it every day,” Nishikori added.
To have survived the strenuous week in Monaco without injuries and wounds is a good sign for the injury-prone Japanese superstar and pointing the way for the future. “Overjoyed and very satisfied,” he continues Nishikori.
The 28-year-old will now be able to prove that his high level of play was no exception in the coming weeks and perhaps even pay Nadal back for the final clapping at one of the upcoming tournaments. Once again this did not work in Barcelona. reason for it: Nishikori had to give up against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the first round. The slow surface is bad for his wrist, he explained after his retirement. “You need more spin on the ball, that’s difficult for me right now,” Nishikori continued.
But for the upcoming French Open it should be enough and the underground is a bit faster than the rest of the world. This could suit the Japanese and his fragile physique. The Masters tournament in Madrid and at the latest the big showdown in Paris will show where Nsihikori will go. Back to your old strength? Maybe.