For Kei Nishikori, one of the rising stars of men’s tennis, the start of the new year could not come quick enough.
The 25-year-old Japanese finished 2014 in a blaze of glory, reaching the final of the US Open, the semi-finals of the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London and climbing to a career best ranking of fifth.
His stellar performances last year have boosted his confidence and given him the spur to go on to bigger and better things in 2015.
“I have more confidence than before,” he told reporters at the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
“I won two tournaments after the US Open and played great in London too. So, I had a great season last year and I had a great preparation in Florida this off-season.”
Nishikori will launch his new season in Brisbane on Wednesday against American Steve Johnson. As the second seed, Nishikori was given a first round bye and is itching to get back on court.
“I think I am doing really well,” he said. “I think these first couple of tournaments of the year are very important for me to gain a little more confidence.
“This is really exciting moment for me.”
Nishikori’s stocks have risen enormously since his breakthrough in New York. He has a huge following in his homeland Japan and a large Japanese media contingent is following his every move in Australia.
Before hitting the practice courts on Tuesday, he visited the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and posed for photos with the Australian marsupials.
“They were so cute. I get really relaxed (but the) nail was really sharp so it was hurting, otherwise it was really fun,” he told reporters.
“Actually, outside is really changing around me. It’s really different. A lot of media stuff, especially in Japan. I feel more attention.”
After Brisbane, he plans to play in an exhibition event in Kooyong before the Australian Open, a tournament where he has performed consistently in recent years, reaching the quarter-finals in 2012 and the fourth round in 2013 and 2014.
While the Australian Open is his immediate goal, Nishikori said he has sights on making an impact at all the grand slams this year.
“Maybe to get semis or final if I can. Maybe to win a Masters, that’s next goal for me,” he said.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
