Nishikori Targets Return To Top 5 In 2016

Kei Nishikori is targetting a return to the Top 5 in the Emirates ATP Rankings this year. The Japanese star is currently 90-points behind No. 6-ranked David Ferrer and 645 points behind No. 5-ranked Rafael Nadal.

“I was very happy to be No. 4 last year, although I wasn’t there for a long time,” said Nishikori, who spent six weeks at No. 4 in August and September 2015. “That’s something I have to work on this year, to get into the Top 4 or 5. That will be a big challenge for me, because Novak [Djokovic] is playing amazing, Andy [Murray] is playing better and Roger [Federer] is playing great tennis again. It will be difficult to be there, but if I stay focused I think I have a chance to get there.”

This week, Nishikori is hoping to capture a fourth straight Memphis Open, where he has won 13 consecutive matches. His only loss came against Marcos Baghdatis in 2009.

“I’m really looking forward to playing,” he said. “This is one of my favourite tournaments, winning three years in a row, and I hope to win another one this year. I will try to play one match at a time and concentrate in order to play good tennis. I know it isn’t easy, but I have great confidence playing here and I like to spend time in Memphis. I will try to enjoy this week.”

Nishikori trained with wild card Tommy Paul, one of 13 Americans in the 28-player draw, earlier this week. He plays another American, Ryan Harrison, in his first match.