Nishikori chases fourth title in a row
Defending Memphis Open champ has ‘great confidence’
Kei Nishi kori spoke calmly and quietly during a press conference Monday afternoon at The Racquet Club of Memphis. He looked completely at ease. And why wouldn’t he?
The 26-year-old Japanese native has won three consecutive titles at the Memphis Open, the only player in the 39-year history of the event to achieve such a feat. He’s the world’s sevent h-ra n ked player, and one of only four players to win the tournament in consecutive years. With another victory this week, he would join Jimmy Connors as the only four-time winners of the event.
And make no mistake: Nishikori def initely expects to win it again this year.
“I know it’s not easy, but I have great confidence playing here,” he said. “I love to spend time here in Memphis, so I’ll try to enjoy this week.”
Nishikori, the top-seeded player in this year’s singles draw, is coming off a trip to the quarterfinals in last month’s Australian Open, where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. He has won 10 ATP singles titles in his career, including seven in the past two years. Three
of those tournament victories have come in Memphis.
So what’s his secret? There really isn’t one. He said he loves the feel of the court and is simply comfortable here.
“I think it’s a little different, a different ball,” Nishikori explained. “The surface is a little bit slower, so it’s going to change a little bit. But I practiced this morning and feel good. For sure I’ll have to make some little changes, little adjustments with this surface, but I am feeling good.”
Nishikori’s continued success here has given him a tremendous amount of comfort and confidence entering the week, but it hasn’t fostered any superstitions. He’s not the type of person to seek out the same restaurants, or stay at the same hotel.
“I don’t do anything (the) same,” Nishikori said with a smile. “I like something different all of the time. Even (though) I have three titles here, I change things all the time.”
At last year’s event, Nishi kori dropped the first set in each of his first three matches but rallied every time to reach the finals, where he beat Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Two weeks later, Nishikori ascended to a career-best No. 4 world ranking. He remained at that spot for only a week.
One of his goals in 2016 is to return to the top five — and, this time, to stay there. A fourth consecutive win in Memphis may provide a boost.
“When you win the tournament, you always get good confidence and great energy from that week,” Nishikori said. “It really changes your tennis, too. You can be more aggressive and you can play with your confidence.”
N is hi kori received a first-round bye and will play his first match Wednesday night against American Ryan Harrison, whom he beat in the round of 16 at this tournament last year. Harrison narrowly defeated 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe on Monday in the most thrilling match of the young tournament, a 6-7 (0-7), 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 nail-biter.
“It’s an honor to come back here again,” Nishikori said. “This is one of my favorite tournaments, winning three years in a row. I hope I can make another one this year. Try to play one match at a time and try to concentrate and hope I can play good tennis.”
In other action Monday, Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko sneaked past sixth-seeded Sam Groth of Australia, 7- 6 (7-4), 7- 6 (7-2), while fifth-seeded Denis Kudla topped Rajeev Ram 6-4, 6-2.