By Blair Henley | Tuesday, March 25, 2014

 

Kei Nishikori strikes a forehand in his 7-6(7), 7-5 win over Grigor Dimitrov in the Sony Open third round.

(Photo Credit: Christopher Levy)

Kei Nishikori’s rock-solid game speaks for itself, but his recent alliance with former world No. 2 Michael Chang and his improved English skills continue to boost his popularity with American fans. In the meantime, the 24-year-old isn’t hurting for attention -- he is a bona fide superstar in his home country of Japan. He even admits to donning disguises when out in public.
 
“In Japan it’s, I have to say, a little bit crazy,” he told Tennis Now after his third round win in Miami. “Sometimes I have to hide to go shopping.”
 
Currently ranked No. 21, Nishikori made headlines in January when he hired Chang to join forces with his longtime coach Dante Bottini. The quiet, understated Nishikori says he appreciates Chang’s coaching style. 
 
“He’s relaxed, and he’s also intense when we practice,” he said, acknowledging with a laugh that the 1989 French Open champion has plenty of good tennis left in the tank. “Yeah, he can still hit. He can still hit well.”

READ: Go Inside the Mind of Fabio Fognini
 
For Nishikori, South Florida's Sony Open is a homecoming of sorts. Sony CEO Akio Morita financed his move to the United States a decade ago.
 
“It’s great to see the name of my old sponsor,” he said. “They always helped me, and that was the beginning of my pro tour. It’s good to see the name here.”
 
Nishikori reached a career-high ranking of No. 11 last summer, proving he can beat players like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on a given day. But he’s struggled to maintain that level, stagnating just inside the top 20 for much of the last two years.
 
“I think I can play [well] enough to beat top 10 guys,” he said with confidence. “I think I’m still not playing my best tennis every match. Consistency is the key of my tennis right now.”
 
The fact that he can articulate his thoughts on his tennis game is a victory for the Shimane, Japan native. Upon arriving in the States, Nishikori spoke no English, making it difficult to engage with fans. When he captured his first title at the 2008 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, he could do little more than accept the trophy.
 
“I remember my winning speech in Delray where I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t say thanks to the sponsors or my team. It was tough, but you don’t speak when you’re playing,” he said with a wry smile. “That was helpful.”