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Novak Djokovic ATP Cup 2021

‘I thought I played okay – Novak Djokovic was amazing’, says Kei Nishikori


Kei Nishikori reflected that he was just unable to stay with Novak Djokovic after he was dismantled by the world number one at the Tokyo Olympics.

The former world number four praised the “amazing” level the Serbian produced in the match, as well as the whole tournament and the “last couple months”.

Djokovic crushed the Japanese star 6-2, 6-0 in an hour and 12 minutes in the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s singles event.

The 34-year-old will face fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals in Tokyo as he continues his bid to win a first gold medal.

“He was defending amazing today — everything deep — and I was trying to stay with him but I couldn’t,” Nishikori said in a post-match interview.

“I thought I was playing okay but my serving was bad today and he was attacking every [time]. The way he’s played today, this week and last couple months, it’s been amazing.”

World number 69 Nishikori defeated Rafael Nadal to claim a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.


Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.