A right wrist injury ended Kei Nishikori's season before the 2017 Western & Southern Open.
Nishikori made a winning return to Cincinnati today, sweeping Andrey Rublev, 7-5, 6-3.
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The victory vaults the 23rd-ranked Japanese into a second-round showdown with either 12th-seeded Diego Schwartzman or Swiss wild card Stan Wawrinka.
Former world No. 4 Nishikori has two primary goals for the rest of the season: return to the Top 10 and qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London.
"Hopefully, I try to get back to the Top 10 as soon as possible because it's been a long time outside the Top 10," Nishikori told Tennis Channel's Leif Shiras after his first Cincinnati win since he beat Mikhail Youzhny in his 2016 opener. "I'm trying to aim for another Tour final at the end of this year.
"Hopefully, I can have a good summer at US Open and hopefully make Top 10 by the end of the year."
The 2014 US Open finalist has reached the Flushing Meadows semifinals in two of his last three appearances in New York.
Since he's not defending any ranking points the rest of the season, Nishikori can make a Top 10 run if he can stay healthy.
These days, the 28-year-old Japanese is trying to have more fun on court.
"Every match is a challenge for me," Nishikori told Tennis Channel's Leif Shiras. "And I'm always excited to play against Top players. It's tough to play with Top 10 players, but it's always fun to challeng them and that's my motivation. Now, I think I'm enjoying tennis a little more now."
Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Facebook