Nishikori: 'I hope to get past the quarter-finals at the Australian Open'

will seek his first Australian Open semifinal ever when the first calendar Grand Slam of the year will start in a week. Nishikori, who missed the tournament in 2018, feels confident after winning the Brisbane International. The main goal is to do well in Australian Open, but Im really happy that Ive been playing really well this week, said Nishikori following his win over Daniil Medvedev in the championship clash.

So I hope I can do well better than quarterfinal. Nishikori also commented on his special relationship with Brisbane. He first played there in 2009: I feel like I played this tournament so many times, and mostly I was doing well many semifinals, and two years ago I was final against Dimi.

It was a good match, and I feel like I almost play well this tournament. So I knew I going to have a chance sometimes, and yeah, this week was one of the best playings so far for this tournament, I think, and I never had this good start of the year.

So I feel like very confident and very happy to finally win this tournament. Analyzing his win over Medvedev, Nishikori concluded: I felt like the second set I was a little bit like waiting too much, and I couldnt convert all the chances I had.

And he did really well the last game. I mean 4-3 game. And he took the risk, and he did well, and I mean credit to him for the second set that I had so many chances and I think I could win, you know, two sets. But maybe the third set I start playing a little bit more inside, start hitting more.

And when I realized I had to do something to win this match, and I think I made a change really well. I think to return well. That was the biggest key, I think. Able to return very deep. And I think I gave him a little pressure. So, yeah, happy to play another good tennis.

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