Kei showing gives new life to a dormant sport in Japan

Reuters/New York

Although Kei Nishikori was beaten in straight sets by Marin Cilic in Monday’s final, his riveting run at the US Open has brought new life to a dormant sport in his homeland.

Like so many of Japan’s sporting greats, Nishikori’s path to stardom led to the United States, where his raw ability was refined and he developed into a top-10 player.

With no English but plenty of big dreams, Nishikori was 14 when he left his hometown of Matsue on Japan’s west coast for the United States in the hope of becoming an elite player.

Like so many others with similar aspirations, Nishikori beat a path to Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a tennis factory that has manufactured great champions such as Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova.

On the academy’s website, Nishikori now features at the top of a list of illustrious alumni that also includes Grand Slam winners Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles and Jim Courier.

It was here where Nishikori was given the Project 45 nickname. In the Open Era, no Japanese man had climbed higher than 46 in the world rankings and Nishikori’s original goal, long since reached, was to top Shuzo Matsuoka’s modest achievement.

The excitement surrounding Nishikori’s rise is in stark contrast to the fall of Japan’s last great men’s player, Jiro Satho, who reached five Grand Slam semi-finals before committing suicide in 1934 by jumping over the side of a ship as he travelled to a Davis Cup tie.

Nishikori went one better than Satho to become the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final by pushing aside some of the game’s greatest champions and biggest names at Flushing Meadows.

But the road the 24-year-old counter-puncher travelled was as much about will as skill.

To reach the final, Nishikori ground out five-set victories over fifth seed Milos Raonic and third seed Stan Wawrinka before dismissing world number one Novak Djokovic in a sweltering Arthur Ashe Stadium showdown.

Even before the final, he had made the US Open record books by playing in the joint latest finishing match ever when he wrapped up his fourth round encounter with Raonic at 2:26 am (0626 GMT).

That Nishikori would display such grit and deep determination was not out of character. His American coach Michael Chang, a former Grand Slam champion, survived on similar terrier-like instincts.

Nishikori’s trademark leaping forehands are reminiscent of a young French Open champion Chang, who has urged his student to be ever more aggressive. “It’s been working well,” said Nishikori, who now calls Bradenton home.

“He is working me very hard and a lot of practice on the court and change a couple things to my tennis. A little more aggressive than before and stepping more in. He’s also helping me mentally. Very strong mental he was. He’s telling me a lot of things, to stay focused in the match and never get frustrated too much and always pump up yourself.”

“It’s always exciting to play. It’s a little bit different to than US in Japan. US has a lot of respect for the sports, but not as much in Japan. I hope I can make a little bit difference,” said Nishikori.