Nishikori recalls mindset during maiden title run at the 2008 Delray Beach Open: "It was really hard to believe in myself"

The Japanese superstar recalled in an interview with ATPWorldTour how he was reluctant to play at the event, for fear of being embarrassed.

“I told my coach I didn’t want to play in Delray because it’s a different level and [there’s] no way I’m going to win those tournaments,” Nishikori told ATPWorldTour.com. “But my coach pushed me to play.”

Following the advice of his coach, Glenn Weiner, Nishikori proceeded to go on one of the most impressive runs in recent memory at an ATP event.

Ranked World No.244, the youngster fought through qualifying to win eight matches before upsetting World No.12 James Blake 3-6 6-1 6-4 to capture his first ATP title.

Nishikori became the first Japanese tour-level titlist since Shuzo Matsuoka at the 1992 Seoul Open. Surpassing Matsuoka had been a goal of Nishikori's, but he never fathomed that would be attained so early in his career.

“At that time, it was really hard to believe in myself,” Nishikori admitted. “I was losing to guys ranked like 300 and I wasn’t playing well. I don’t know what happened.”

After saving four match points against Sam Querrey in the semifinals, Nishikori revealed that he never believed he would beat Blake in the final.

“I wasn’t believing that I could win the match. I was still thinking I might lose this game, even though I had match points,” Nishikori said. “It was really tough to believe in myself, especially against James, who was almost Top 10. And I was watching him on TV at that time, so it wasn’t easy.”

“I was coming from almost nothing before Delray Beach,” Nishikori disclosed. “That was the start of my career.”

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