What Will Kei Nishikori’s Ascent to Stardom Do for Tennis in Asia?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: September 22, 2014

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Who knew that Kei Nishikori’s quarterfinal appearance at the 2014 Australian Open was the building block for his rise into the Top 10 rankings. His tennis skill had often been overlooked, but then he battled World No. 1 Rafael Nadal as if announcing his presence as a star on the ATP tour.

Hailing from Japan, Nishikori is already a superstar in Asia and 2014 has seen him scribe new chapters into the mostly blank records book of Far East tennis. With China’s Li Na now retired, he is the face of Asia, and under the watchful eyes of billions in their region.

He might be pound for pound the best example of tennis purity in the ATP at this moment. He possesses the foundation for classic baseliners’ game, but with a modern, technical flavor.

How has he stormed into the Top 10, and can he hold the weight of Asian tennis expectations on his slender frame?



 

Rising Sun

In that quarterfinals match, Nishikori wore a bright yellow shirt and looked for all the world like bursts of solar flares. He played with energy as he uncoiled his body into shots at Nadal. He struck early by reading Nadal’s more methodical approach, and he created his own lethal attack, often brilliant and sometimes scorching shots with heavy fire.

As tennis players continue to grow taller and bigger, producing its share of serveborgs, Nishikori plays at 5’ 10” and 154 pounds, a mosquito on today’s line-up cards. He cannot rely on a large frame to produce powerful serves or strokes, but looks like an early-80s clay-court player who should look to retrieve every ball and send it back safely to outlast his opponents.

Except that Nishikori does not fit this profile.

Watch when he runs to set up his shots. He is keen with early racket preparation while he sets up his footwork. He snaps his shots crosscourt for unusually sharp angles—mixing i...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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