Nishikori hailed as new tennis star in Japan

TOKYO—Teenager Kei Nishikori was Monday hailed by Japanese tennis officials and media as a new star after the 18-year-old shocked top seed James Blake to win the Delray Beach ATP title.
It was the first time a Japanese man has won a senior tour event since 1992 when Shuzo Matsuoka triumphed in Seoul. Matsuoka, now 40, said Nishikori showed his talent even as a child before moving to Florida to be trained at the renowned Bollettieri Academy. “Although he had to compete with many fans cheering for his opponent, he was able to get the support of the crowd,” Matsuoka told the online edition of the Asahi Shimbun. “A new star is born. His talent is beyond mine.”
Nishikori, ranked 244th in the world and playing in his first ATP final, claimed his maiden career crown Sunday by beating Blake 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. TV Asahi reported his triumph as the top item on its mid-day news programme. Jiji Press said that Nishikori, who relocated to the United States as a junior high school student with help from a tennis foundation, hoped to grow even more. “As Japanese men have not been able to show strong performances since Matsuoka, Nishikori has become a model case for discovery of talented players who wish to become professional,” Jiji said. Nishikori, who had to qualify to get into the tournament, has now received a special exemption into the main draw of the next ATP tournament in San Jose, California, starting on Monday. “This is the best tournament in my life,” he said. “I am so happy right now. I played eight matches in nine days but I didn’t feel tired.” Prior to Delray Beach, Nishikori had played in just five ATP events, posting a 3-5 record in 2007. This season he had been battling to find his form on the Challenger development circuit. While Japan has struggled to produce top quality men’s players, it has seen far more success with its women, led by veteran Ai Sugiyama who has won six WTA singles titles and 34 doubles titles. Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori stunned American top seed James Blake 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday to win the ATP title here. The 18-year-old, ranked 244th in the world, claimed his first career crown and became the first Japanese man to win a tour event since Shuzo Matsuoka in Seoul in April 1992. Nishikori, who had to qualify to get into the main draw of the 411,000-dollar hardcourt tournament, was playing in his first ATP final.
He has been based in Florida since he began training at the Bollitierri Academy at the age of 14. “Last night I tried to imagine winning the final, but I couldn’t do it,” Nishikori admitted. “I was so nervous in the first set. During the second set I started to feel more confident. “This is the best tournament in my life,” he added. “I am so happy right now. I played eight matches in nine days but I didn’t feel tired.” Nishikori won’t get much chance to rest. He received a special exemption into the main draw of the tournament starting on Monday in San Jose, California.
“I am now happy to be going to play the main draw of San Jose,” he said. “I love California. They have great Asian food.” Blake, 29 and ranked 12th in the world, got off to a quick start against his inexperienced opponent and appeared to be on his way to an 11th career title after taking the first set. But Nishikori kept his cool. He used impressive speed around the court and hit winners from both sides to take a 4-0 lead in the second as he leveled the match at one set apiece.
He saved three break points in the second game of the third set, then broke Australian Open quarter-finalist Blake in the next game and held to love for a 3-1 lead. At 5-4 he served out the match with another love game.—Agencies