Former US Open finalist Nishikori was inspired to return with Djokovic and Nadal still playing: "And I haven't played against Alcaraz, Rune"
ATPTuesday, 25 July 2023 at 02:30
Former US Open finalist, Kei Nishikori will make his ATP Tour return this week at the Atlanta Open.
This after a long comeback road but one that was inspired by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic's drive to continue playing late into their career.
As well as facing off with Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune and the potential to face the next generation towards the tail end of his career.
“It was tough to maintain the motivation, but I just wanted to play tennis again and compete again,” Nishikori said to Eurosport.
“And especially watching [Novak] Djokovic, Rafa [Nadal] still playing, fighting. And I haven’t played against Alcaraz, Rune. That’s something I also can’t wait to play against them.”
On his comeback, match practice is simply the name of the game for Nishikori who believes he just needs confidence and wins in order to return towards the top.
“I just need to play more matches,” Nishikori added.
“I think I just need to play with those top-50 players again.
“I just need to get used to playing with those guys and get confidence again. Overall I’m really happy with how I’m playing. I just need to focus and recover well.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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