Nishikori Searching For The Right Mix Against Djokovic

Kei Nishikori knows better than most about the challenges presented by Novak Djokovic.

Nishikori, a player known for his versatility, adjusted his game plan in an attempt to overcome the World No. 1 in the Miami Open presented by Itau final on Sunday.

“I don’t know for other players, but it’s tough to find his weakness,” he said. “I had a couple of strategies before this match, but I don’t think I did well enough to beat him today. I was missing a lot with my forehand and made too many unforced errors.

“He has great defense, so it’s tough to break his game,” the Japanese, who fell to 2-7 in the FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry against Djokovic, added.  “He was very patient and he didn’t miss. It’s always tough to play Novak.”

The No. 6 player in the Emirates ATP Rankings recognised that Djokovic’s main strength is an uncanny ability to prevent his opponents from playing their best.

“Maybe five or six [out of 10],” replied Nishikori when asked how he rated his performance in the final. “I thought I wasn’t playing too badly. But at the same time, he played great tennis.

“My serve wasn’t going today. He has a great return, so I felt a little pressure on my service games. He’s definitely the No. 1 player right now. It was about him, even if I didn’t play the way I wanted to.”

Nishikori, a resident of Bradenton, Florida, will now head to Europe after a successful March hard court swing and attempt to re-enter the Top 5 Emirates ATP Rankings.

“Indian Wells and Miami have been important,” Nishikori noted. “I live in the States so I feel more comfortable playing these two tournaments. I’ve never done well at Indian Wells but this year I did make the quarter-finals. That’s progress.

“I’m excited to be back on clay. I been playing well on clay, so starting in Barcelona I hope to get my ranking up.”