There Goes My Hero: Nishioka Stoked to Stun Nishikori in Cincinnati

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There Goes My Hero: Nishioka Stoked to Stun Nishikori in Cincinnati

It was a magical day on many counts for Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. For one, he recorded his first Top 10 win in eight tries, an important feat no matter who the opponent. Second he reached the third round at Cincinnati for the first time—a nice boost for the confidence, the ranking, and the bank account. And, third, he beat the top-ranked player from Japan, the legendary Kei Nishikori.

But the win wasn’t what mattered to Nishioka. It was just battling his heart out against his hero.

“Doesn't matter win or lose,” Nishioka told reporters after notching a 6-4 6-4 triumph over Nishikori on Grandstand Court at Cincinnati. “Just try my best against my hero. Then today I won. But this is very, I think, important experience for me. Doesn't matter win or lose. Just play with him. Today I learn many things from him.”

The match was so important for Nishioka that he said he could hardly sleep last night.

“I was so excited to play with him, because he's the hero of the Japanese tennis, most of the Asian tennis,” he said. “So I was very excited to play. I couldn't sleep yesterday, you know. I know him very well. I was watching him when I was junior. I was learning many things from him.”

For a player like Nishioka, who is lightning-quick and very steady from the baseline, the Top 10 victory is a long-time coming. And perhaps it is the victory that will spur him to even bigger wins and the Top 50 ranking that most feel he is more than capable of achieving.

Time will tell. Nishioka will face Alex de Minaur in the third round. It will be two of the fastest players on the ATP Tour, going head to head in a very important match.

“Same thing like today,” Nishioka said. “I just do my best and then, you know, try to play aggressive. Sometimes use my quickness and make maybe long rally or something, maybe fun or something. Just try what I want to do like today. Then hopefully I win.”

Sounds like a plan…

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