Nishikori: "I still have the same passion as 10 years ago"

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Kei Nishikori, currently ranked 106th in the world, is present at the ATP Hong Kong 2025, where he will kick off his season. Like his top rivals, the ultimate goal of this early part of the year is to arrive in the best possible condition for the 2025 Australian Open. At 35 years old, the Japanese former world number four talks about his motivations and assesses his current physical and tennis level.

"I still have the same passion as, let's say, 10 years ago. I still love tennis, I still love competing, playing matches with these guys, especially something new," Kei said in statements to the media at the ATP Hong Kong 2025, as reported on the ATP official page. "There are players like Sinner or Alcaraz, the younger ones, whom I haven't played against yet. That's something I would like to do this year if I can raise my level and ranking. It's a good motivation for me, playing against these young talents."

Seeking confidence on the court

"I finished 2024 quite well. Not the best I wanted, but still finished well, especially by winning the Challenger in the last tournament of the year. That gave me a lot of confidence to win more matches on the ATP circuit. I need to gain even more confidence to win more matches at the highest level, and that's what I have to do this week. It's important to do well here to also have a good preparation for the Australian Open."

His physical and tennis level

"Physically, I'm doing well, finally. In the last two years, and even in 2024, I was also struggling midway through. Tennis-wise, I feel more confident, feel that now I can play with anyone. Everything is quite positive. I want to enjoy every match, and this week is a good challenge for me. I feel good again, training here has been good, so I think I'm ready to play. Right now, the situation is different.

Playing against Top 50 and above opponents is not going to be easy. I'll try to enjoy every moment. The good thing is that I still have passion and train a lot. I have no problem training a lot; I still enjoy it. My goal for 2024 was to be in the top 100, and I've basically achieved that. I hope to now break into the Top 50; I don't know if I can reach Top 20, Top 10 this season, hopefully I can in a few years."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nishikori: "Sigo teniendo la misma pasión de hace 10 años"