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Kei Nishikori
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‘It’s been two years since I felt like this’, declares resurgent Kei Nishikori


Kei Nishikori said he is feeling “strong” for the first time in two years and since his comeback from injury after his impressive recent run.

The 31-year-old is through to the semi-finals of the Citi Open ATP 500 tournament in Washington, having reached the last eight at his home Olympics in Tokyo last week.

The former world number four recorded his first top 10 win since 2018 by downing world number seven Andrey Rublev in the first round at the Games.

Nishikori suffered a season-ending wrist injury in 2019, and saw his comeback in 2020 curtailed by a shoulder issue, but has been able to play regularly again this year.

“I feel like it’s been two years that I feel like this. The way I feel on the court is very nice, very comfortable, being aggressive. I’m finally start feeling the ball,” the world number 67 said in a press conference.

“So feel like beating top 10, it [had] been two years also. But after coming back from my wrist injury, last week was first time I felt like strong, and I feel like I’m carrying that this week too.

“Very happy. Very pleased that how I keep playing like this. There is some up and downs, but yeah – last two weeks I have been feeling pretty nice.”

Nishikori defeated Lloyd Harris 6-3, 7-5 in the quarter-finals in Washington to set up a last four clash with Mackenzie McDonald.


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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.