Nishikori using Olympic Games experience to thrive on home soil: "I got strong mentally and I'm playing good"
ATPSunday, 25 July 2021 at 20:00
Kei Nishikori dumped out Andrey Rublev who was one of the top favourites for the Tokyo Olympic Games gold medal with a 6-3, 6-4 victory in impressive style.
Nishikori who has been mounting a comeback of sorts is of course one of many home heroes after medals and he hopes to utilise his bad experiences in the past at the Games to further his medal charge.
“You know it’s been a while playing like this and playing to beat top 10 players. I think it’s been two years already,” the Rio 2016 bronze medallist said after his win.
“I was a little bit worried if I got nervous on the court but I wasn’t, so that’s a good sign.
“I think experience helps a lot. The first Olympics (in 2008) I was really nervous, and I have a bad memory about that (after losing in the first round) but since then, I think I got many experience, I got strong mentally, and I’m playing good.”
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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