Nishikori ready to make impact at Grand Slams
Highest-ranked Asian men’s singles player ever eyes Melbourne assault
>> MELBOURNE: Japanese star Kei Nishikori said he’s become more mature and mentally stronger and he’s now ready to convert his immense promise into Grand Slam success.
The 27-year-old, the highestranked Asian men’s singles player ever, has won 11 career titles but never a major championship, going closest at the 2014 US Open where he lost in the final to Marin Cilic.
After making the second week of all four Grand Slams last year, with a semi-final appearance at Flushing Meadows the highlight, he is determined to go a step further this year.
“It’s been three years now maybe to be in the top 10,” he said Saturday ahead of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, where he has reached the quarter-finals three times.
“Well, I got really mentally strong. I think I’m more consistent and much more mature in everything, you know, even off the court, on the court too. “Everything is getting better now.” With a good off-season under his belt, he is fired up to keep improving and finally go the distance at a Grand Slam, with Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov his first round test next week.
“I hope I can get a Grand Slam title sometime. But I haven’t got a big title yet, even the Masters tournaments,” said the fifth seed.
“That’s something what I need for my confidence and experience. Yeah, my goal this year is to win a big tournament.”
Nishikori, who moved to the United States aged 14, has had a solid build-up to the opening Grand Slam of the year, making the Brisbane International final where he lost to Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in an enthralling clash.
“I thought I started well this year. So, yeah, it’s going to be really important how I do here to get a lot of confidence for the start of the season. I’m feeling pretty good,” he said.
TRUMP NOT TO NADAL’S TASTE
Former world No.1 Rafael Nadal said on Friday that US Presidentelect Donald Trump was not quite to his taste while lamenting Spanish politics has also, in his view, become too razzmatazz.
“It’s not my style. I was in the United States when Trump was on the campaign trail,” Nadal told Spanish online site El Espanol as he limbered up for the Australian Open.
“It is true that I don’t care for his manner of speaking — his way of expressing himself is not a style I appreciate,” added Nadal, while conceding he was no expert on the US political scene.
“Also, I’ll be honest — the other option didn’t do much for me either,” added the Spaniard in allusion to defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Nadal consoled himself with the thought that in a globalised world Trump would not necessarily be able to have things all his own way.
The Mallorcan winner of 14 Grand Slam singles titles was more guarded in his assessment of the incoming president than actress Meryl Streep, who earlier this week used the Golden Globes ceremony to blast Trump.
Nadal did criticise a Spanish political establishment left in virtual paralysis for much of last year after inconclusive December 2015 elections before conservative leader Mariano Rajoy was sworn in to head a new minority government.
“Everything is turning into a show — and Spain is not a show. Spain is a country, our present and our future,” the 30-year-old said, indicating he believed supporters of different strands of political opinion should reach out for the good of the nation.
Nadal, whose season was plagued by a wrist injury last season, said he was ready for the Australian Open which starts tomorrow.
“I feel good today,” said Nadal, currently ranked ninth, adding that if he could stay fit he could get back to competing with the best.
Nadal’s preparations were hit in terms of match fitness at least when he lost to Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals in Brisbane after first winning an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.
“Injuries or no injuries I’ve had a fantastic career to date — but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to improve. Of course I do,” he concluded.