“It’s a Shame”: Kei Nishikori Disappointed With First-Round Exit on His ATP Tour Return

The last 12 months have not been great for Japanese star Kei Nishikori. He suffered an elbow injury that needed surgery. In addition to that, he contracted the coronavirus that has been spreading all around the world.

However, despite these setbacks, Nishikori made a return to tennis at the 2020 Austrian Open Kitzbuhel. Sadly, he lost his first match to Miomir Kecmananovic in 3 sets. But he is not too worried about it. In an interview, he said,

“I was not 100 percent, but I was happy with the way I played. I was not fit enough and maybe if I finished in two sets it would have been different, as I had some chances.”

“It’s a shame, as I could have won today, but it was a good moment and I’m positive today. I was hitting the ball better in the altitude, so it wasn’t easy, but I do like it. I’ll try to be better prepared for next week.”

Kei Nishikori 2020

Due to his injuries, Kei Nishikori has missed a large part of 2020. However, it is not too late for him to still have a successful season as there are some very big events on the horizon.

The first one is the Italian Open, which will be the only clay-court Masters 1000 title played in the entire year. It will begin on the 14th of September and that is what the Japanese star is preparing for.

Since it will be just his second tournament since his return, he may not win it. But the Japanese star will use it to prepare for one of the biggest events in tennis- the French Open. It will be the last Grand Slam of 2020 and hopefully, Nishikori will win his first Major there.

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