ATP Tour

Nishikori: 'It's like a new world for me'

It has been nearly 17 years since Kei Nishikori broke into the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings. Joao Fonseca, one of the ATP Tour’s new breakthrough stars, is only 18.

Yet Nishikori is still among the best players in the world. While some of the legends the Japanese star competed against for years, like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, have retired, he is still battling with the new generations.

“It's like a new world for me, because the past two years I haven't played, and the players have changed a lot,” Nishikori told ATPTour.com ahead of the Dallas Open. “It's good motivation for me, because you kind of start from zero again. You have to scout all the players again, and it's fun to play with new guys.”

Some of Nishikori’s contemporaries — he named Novak Djokovic, Gael Monfils and Fabio Fognini, against whom he has met in a combined 29 Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings — remain on the circuit. But for the most part, he is playing new opponents, which is an opportunity he cherishes.

“I’m really enjoying this moment, because especially Jannik and Alcaraz, they have different tennis than 10 years ago, and I think I never had those experiences before,” Nishikori said. “I’m really looking forward to play with those players.”

Nishikori, who practised with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in Monaco, said the Italian’s ball was “very straight and fast”. That has been an evolutionary theme the 35-year-old has noticed since he first made his mark as a teen in 2008.

“I think the speed of the ball is much faster and stronger, and the players are very quick, moving well,” Nishikori said. “Players are playing more aggressive, and they can hit the ball harder. Now you really have to be strong physically to keep up with these players, and I think that's the biggest difference.”

The former World No. 4 is happy to be healthy and feeling well physically. Nishikori made a splash in the opening week of the season, when he made the final in Hong Kong to return to the Top 100.

It was Nishikori’s first final since winning the Brisbane title in 2019. The World No. 71 hopes to continue his upwards trajectory this week at the ATP 500 in Dallas, where he opens against sixth seed Tomas Machac.

“I feel like I'm back in good shape. I think I have many chances playing anybody right now,” Nishikori said. “Not sure about Jannik and Alcaraz, but I think there are little things that I still have to to change or fix, but I feel like I'm almost there.”