‘Excited’ Nishikori is dangerous opponent

KEI Nishikori, Andy Murray’s last-four opponent in Shanghai today, reached his first Masters Series semi-final yesterday with a commanding 6-4 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov, underlining his imminent status as Japan’s highest-ranked player ever on the ATP Tour.

The 21-year-old, earmarked by many as a future top-ten player, will rise from 47th to around 32 in the world when the next set of rankings are released on Monday, eclipsing the 46th spot reached by Shuzo Matsuoka in 1992.

Nishikori, who had already achieved his best Masters Series run by beating Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo on Thursday, withstood nine aces from the 12th seeded Dolgopolov and saved six of the seven break points against him.

“It means a lot to play semis here. I’m really excited now. I started well today. I knew he’s going to hit a lot of slice shots and I had to be careful,” said Nishikori, who is coached by Murray’s former coach Brad Gilbert. “It’s been a great year for me. I will get to my highest ranking. To be the number one player in Japan means a lot to me. Now it’s the semis here, one of biggest tournaments for me.”

Nishikori roomed with Gilbert’s son Zachary at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida and said the coach’s instruction has been key to improving his game.

“He knows a lot of players. He teaches me, you know, how the top players play, how I need to play,” he added. “So it is helping me a lot, I think.”

Looking ahead to his first encounter with Murray, Nishikori said it would be a formidable test. “Andy has won two tournaments in a row, and beating Rafael Nadal [in Japan]. It’s going to be tough. I’ve never played him but I’m going to ask my coach. He knows a lot of things, I guess.”