Nishikori Embraces The Argentinian Experience

Kei Nishikori is relishing his time back in Buenos Aires for the first time in five years. Guided by his coach, Dante Bottini, the Shimane native has done one of the most compulsory experiences that a visitor has to do: having a nice ‘asado’, an Argentian roast.

“This country is great and there are so many things that you can do. Yesterday I had a great steak. It was really tasty,” the No. 1 seed said.

“I am really excited to be back here. Dante has been helping me a lot, especially on clay courts, and for me it is very special to be here because he is from Argentina.”

It was Bottini’s idea for the then 17^th-ranked Nishikori to come to Buenos Aires in 2012. While so many people would see him as the perfect player for hard courts, his coach saw the possibilities on clay. He was right.

Over the past five seasons, Nishikori has been improving steadily on the clay as a consistent Top 10 player challenging the ‘Big Four’. He served notice on the clay with back-to-back titles in Barcelona (2014-2015), where he also played the final last year (l. to Nadal). And also in 2014, the Japanese player was runner-up at the ATP World Tour Mutua Madrid Open.

Nishikori returns to competition after losing to eventual Australian Open champion Roger Federer in the fourth round at Melbourne Park. “It was a tough loss”, Nishikori said.

“I learned many things after that match and I just tried to keep going, keep practising and just hoping to have a great result here. Would be great for my confidence.”

Despite the tough loss, it was not enough to keep him from watching the final. “It was a great match,” he said.

“It could have gone either way and both Rafa and Roger were playing great tennis. I am just happy to see them back in a final.”

Nishikori wants to build up his confidence. And with a scheduling change, now is the time to try the Buenos Aires-Rio de Janeiro swing.

“It’s a big change for me but I love playing on clay courts. I think it can be a good preparation for Europe,” he said. “I want to win these two tournaments.”