CAMELOT FANTASIES

Nishikori Against Nadal my body starts shaking every time

Gatto Luigi - 24-12-2016

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/news/Rafael_Nadal/39171/nishikori-against-nadal-my-body-starts-shaking-every-time-/

Kei Nishikori has never played a full season. Because of injuries, the Japanese player has always been forced to stop during the middle of the season. This year it happened in October when he had a gluteus injury in Tokyo.
He has ups and downs mentally during a match as well. 'That's my issue every year,' Nishikori told the Japanese website Nikkei. 'I need to play more consistently during a match in order to increase my concentration. There are still many shots I need to improve technically, so if I have to say, (everything) is going to be something I need to work on. If I can be more stronger mentally, I can beat top players. I need to play much, much stronger tennis.'
Speaking about how hard it was to be focused all the time in such a long season, Nishikori said. 'Even Murray and Djokovic cannot play at maximum level throughout the year. But they still make it to semi-finals and finals all the time and that’s why they are at the top of the world. It’s about not only recovering physically but also how you can stay fresh mentally facing each match. How you do not think too much of the matches and how you pump yourself up before the match but be relaxed once you are back to the hotel. It’s very important to switch on and off like that.'
No player makes him feel nervous like Rafael Nadal does. 'It happens every time I play Nadal. He is the kind of opponent I cannot win unless I play aggressive,' said Nishikori, who's lost nine of the 11 matches he's played against the Spaniard player. At Rio Olympics, in the bronze medal match, he was up 6-2 5-2 and won only in the third set.
'I know that if I play against him without taking risks, I will lose 100%. There is a pressure that I have to finish and win when I’m leading in the match. I think that’s why my body starts shaking. He is such a fighter and never gives up. He hits balls with “super” topspins, so I have to come inside (the baseline) in order to hit well. His play style is unique. I usually can hit back fine if I have the right racket face angle, but with Nadal, I have to hit through otherwise the ball goes to somewhere.'
This year Nishikori also reached the final in Miami, Barcelona, Toronto and Basel, won Memphis title, but asked where he played the best match of this season, he said, 'Against Andy Murray at the US Open.' In that match, the world no. 5, saved match points to win at the fifth set. 'I also had many matches I came back from match points down this year. It’s interesting how big one point can be, like how one point can shift the momentum and change the outcome of the match. It was only a matter of a few centimeters when I made or missed the shot to win that one point.'