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Kei Nishikori: the ace up Japan’s sleeve

Kei Nishikori made history when he became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final. The 'gentleman warrior' tells Sarah Lazarus he's just getting started

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Photos: David G. McIntyre / ATP; AFP

When Kei Nishikori arrives to meet me at Central Ferry Pier No9, it's with an enormous entourage: his manager, various ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) executives, a representative from the Aqua Restaurant Group, a couple of other journalists and a pack of photographers. As Nishikori walks down the pier, the photographers swarm in front of him, snapping away, holding their cameras inches from his face. It looks like an incredibly stressful way to take in the sights of Hong Kong, but Nishikori appears to be relaxed, strolling from side to side and taking photos of the harbour.

The 24-year-old tennis sensation is accustomed to this media hoopla; over the past few years he's become the darling of both the press and the public in Japan, and his stunning victory over world No1, Novak Djokovic, in last month's US Open, placed him firmly on the international stage.

Nishikori's defeat of Djokovic, in a hard-fought four-set semi-final, made him the first man from Japan, indeed the first from Asia, to reach a singles final at a Grand Slam tournament (Australian Open, French Open, US Open or Wimbledon). At his new position of No7, he's also the first Japanese male player to have broken into the top 10 ATP singles rankings. Although he lost the final in straight sets, to Croatian giant Marin Cilic, his stellar performance at the US Open marked him out as a possible future winner.

Nishikori is in Hong Kong to promote ATP events in Asia. Five tournaments are held over three weeks; in Kuala Lumpur (where Nishikori won the men's singles title), Shenzhen, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai (where the Masters 1000 - the top tier of the world tour events - kicks off today). Tennis is fast gaining popularity in the region and there is no better ambassador for it than Asia's new hero.

Kei Nishikori with fans at the Ladies Recreation Club last month.
Kei Nishikori with fans at the Ladies Recreation Club last month.

The strolling circus boards the Aqua Luna junk, decked out in extra finery in honour of its celebrity passenger. As we set sail, the photographers put their cameras down, giving me the chance to have a proper chat with Nishikori. For my opening shot, I ask him where it all began.

"I grew up in Matsue, in Shimane prefecture, which is one of the smallest cities in Japan. Both my parents play tennis for fun and I have an older sister [Reina] and we started together. The first couple of times we didn't have a tennis court or a net, just hitting some balls. After that I would play with my parents, especially my dad, and then I went to the local tennis school."

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