Fighting to the very last... @keinishikori vs @alexdeminaur was a TREAT to watch ⚡️ #abnamrowtt
Struggling with injuries, Kei Nishikori played only nine matches between the US Open 2019 and Rotterdam 2021, losing seven of those and the last four he entered.
After a slow start to the new season, Kei scored two wins in Rotterdam against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur, advancing to his first quarter-final since Wimbledon 2019 and feeling happy about his game and the changes he implemented.
"I changed my service motion after elbow surgery in October 2019, and again last December. I was working with Max Mirnyi, Michael Chang and a Japanese coach, trying to add more power to my initial shot while stressing my shoulder less than before.
I had to do something after injuring my shoulder last year; it's still not at 100%, but I'm on the right way. I was hitting good serves in the past two matches against Auger-Aliassime and de Minaur, and I'm happy with my serve now.
Because of my history with injury, I still need to change something if I have time and if I have the chance. I'm open to anything. Of course, it's not easy, and it's going to take some time. I still feel like it's not there yet.
But for my body, I will do anything that makes it better. I've been having a really tough time with injury, and I'm happy to be in the quarter-finals of this strong event. I need to keep going and be ready for the next encounter," Kei Nishikori said.
Fighting to the very last... @keinishikori vs @alexdeminaur was a TREAT to watch ⚡️ #abnamrowtt