‘I’m not good enough to win Grand Slams,’ admits a frustrated Kei Nishikori

ATP Tour

Tennis365
June 5, 2019

Kei Nishikori has admitted that failure to win without drama in the early rounds of Grand Slams is costing him opportunities to win them.

The Japanese star was comprehensively beaten by Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals of the French Open on Tuesday after being taken to five sets in each of his previous two matches.

It’s not a new problem for Nishikori either, who has now opened up about his frustration.

“For sure I played too much hours on the court,” he admitted after his 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 loss.

“Today, Rafa, he didn’t let me play how I wanted to play, and especially if I’m not fresh, it’s not easy to stay with him.

“On clay courts it’s very tough playing Rafa. He hits very heavy, and he was serving well.

“He made me play every point. Even to get one game – it feels very long, you know, to get one game. Credit to him, [he is] playing great tennis.”

“I wish I could finish in three sets. Maybe, [I] lost many tie-breaks this week.

“I think I’ve got to keep trying to work, to finish in straight sets, but that means I’m not maybe good enough tennis-wise and also mentally.

“So I’ll just keep working. I think that’s going to be the next step, because I’m always stuck in the quarter-finals in Grand Slams, and I think [the] next goal is to be in semi-finals or a final.

“I know it’s not going to be easy, because I’ve got to beat someone from the top four and I think they are still dominating. But I will just try to keep working.”

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