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Video: Kei Nishikori on Health and Haas' Inspiration


Kei Nishikori says he's healthy and fit ahead of his return to tournament tennis tonight in Washington, DC.

The fifth-ranked Japanese will take on 95th-ranked Aussie James Duckworth in his first match since he withdrew from the Wimbledon second round with a calf injury. That injury also forced Nishikori to retire from his Halle semifinal against Andreas Seppi after just five games. But he says his leg has healed and he arrives in the nation's capital after a two-week training block.

Video: Washington, DC Photo Gallery

"I'm feeling pretty well actually. I had a good preparation before coming here almost three weeks," Nishikori said in his pre-match press conference. "After Wimbledon, I took one week off and my leg was fine after that. I was really working hard for three weeks and feeling pretty well so I'm very looking forward to playing this week."

Nishikori, who has reached the quarterfinals or better 10 times this year, is the second seed in Washington. He's playing for his first final since winning Barcelona on red clay in May.

Though the 5-foot-11 Nishikori has battled lower-body injuries in recent years, he says he's now 100 percent and feels stronger.

"It's not easy but I think these couple of years I got more strong body," Nishikori said. "I feel like it's less injuries right now. In 2008 I had elbow surgery and I couldn't play one year. That year was really tough because I didn't think I could come back to the Top 100 again. Motivation was really low, but I always keep believing in myself and do all the little things. Now, I'm very happy to just play tennis at 100 percent."

Tommy Haas' comeback after shoulder surgery has been a motivating force for Nishikori, who practiced extensively with Haas in Bradenton earlier in his career.

"You see Tommy Haas coming back again and it's also good motivation for me to see that," said Nishikori, who was a Washington, DC quarterfinalist last year.

Photo credit: Barcelona Open BancSabadell

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