Kei Wins Bronze

Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese medalist since Ichiya Kumagai at the 1929 Antwerp Olympics. Kei defeated Rafael Nadal with a 2-1 to get bronze at Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. 

I watched the game on TV. In the second set, he was about to get the medal, only one game to win. Nadal came back from the edge and took back 5 set straight. 

The third set, Nishikori got the first break. Nadal couldn't came back from that. 

I'm reall glad Kei's bronze medal. I hope he comes back to Matsue, his hometown, and to show the Olympic meal to us. 

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Kei Gets the Memphis Title

Kei Nishikori got the fourth victory in a row at Memphis Open Tennis Championships in Tennessee. He beat American player Taylor Fritz at the final. 

His record of four consecutive titles at a single tournament is really remarkable. Only three active players have the record. The members are Federer, Nadal and Djicivic. Nishikori joined the legend players. 

He looked happy in the photos at the winning ceremony, but what he really want to get is a major title. I hope he gets one of the major title in this season. 

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Memphis Open

The three-time defending champion Kei Nishikori won a semifinals against Sam Querrey of America at 2016 Memphis Open Tennis. He will meet 18-year-old Taylor Fritz at the final. 

He plays very well in Tennessee every year. In addition, according to some reports, his service has really advanced recently. I believe I can hear the good news after the final match. 

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Kei and The Australian Open

Kei Nishikori was defeated by the No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic with a 0-3 at quarterfinals of the Australian Open in Melbourne. I watched the game on TV. Kei played well, but Djokovic was too strong to upset. 

The major titles three tournaments left and of course, the Olympics are coming this year. I really hope Kei gets one of them. 

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Nishikori Wins The First Set

I'm watching French Open Tennis on TV now. Kei Nishikori is playing with Brazilian player, Bellucchi. He won the first set with a 7-5. 

Kei is performing well now. I believe he'll win this match. He's already broken two Bellucci's service games. 

I really want to see the first Grand Slam title for Japanese player. 

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Nishikori Appears in a Textbook

Tennis player Kei Nishikori will appear in a junior high school English textbook in 2016. 

Sanseido, the publisher of the textbook, said Nishikori has encouraged younger people because of his effort in the world. He moved to the U.S when he was 13 and struggled to success. He became the first Japanese to get the U.S. Open final. The four pages of article concludes with Nishikori's message, "make your dreams come true."

About 900,000 junior high school students will use the textbook. 

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Memphis Open Tennis

Kei Nishikori won the Memphis Tennis Open and he got the title three years in a row. He became the first player to do so. 

He was suffering to win until the final, but he was able to win a 2-0 against South African Kevin Anderson in the final. 

I saw a picture of the victory ceremony and Kei was holding a victory guitar instead of a trophy in it. It looked interesting and represented well for Memphis, Tennessee. 

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Kei Couldn't Stop Djikovic

Kei Nishikori was defeated by Novac Djikovic by 1-2 in the semifinals at the ATP Tour Finals on November 15 in London.

"When he's playing well, I don't think anybody can stop him," said Nishikori. 

Nishikori lost the match, but the advanc to semifinals was an astonishing event for Japanese people. No Asian tennis player could ever take part in the year-end big tennis tournament before. Only the top eight players are involved the event. 

It has been a memorable and a sensational year for the 24-year-old Japane because he has risen from 17th to fifth in the world tennis rankings. And of course he almost reached one of four major championships, the U.S. Open title. 

He has made Kei fever in Japan. His models of rackets and outfits are often sold out in shops. He made Shuzo Matsuoka, a former top Japanese tennis player, busy. He even made an extra value for his favorite fish, nodoguro. 

Thanks, Kei. I really look forward to your performances next year. Get a major title!
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Kei Goes to Semifinals

Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori won the last match of the first pool at the ATP Tour Finals against Ferrer.

I was able to watch Kei's game only a little on a news show. He showed us astonishing play in the last game. 

Nishikori is going to face the top ranked player Novac Djokovic at semifinals. He got a victory over Djikovic in the previous major tournament, the U.S. Open. I hope he will win the next match. Yes, he has a great opportunity to get a finalist in this year-end big event. 
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Federer Defeats Nishikori

Tennis legend Roger Federer beat Nishikori at the ATP Finals. Nishikori has won against Federer two times, but he found difficult to win this time. Federer, the six-time champion of this tournament, might progress to semifinals. Two of four players in the first pool is going to the next stage. 

Nishikori didn't perform well in this match, but he still has a chance to be alive in this big event if he gets a win next match against Raonic. 

I hope Nishikori beats Federer in the final of this tournament. 

Nishikori Beats Murray

Kei Nishikori has got a good start at ATP World Tour finals with a 2-0 win over British Andy Murray. 

Only eight top tennis players are allowed to join the ATP finals, Nishikori became the first Asian player to participate the year-end big event. 

As he won four ATP tour tournaments and advanced US Open final this year, I'm sure he deserves this title. 

Cilic Wins US Open

Crostia's Marin Cilic won the U.S. Open Tennis title. It was his first grand slam title. Kei Nishikori was not able to make historical victory for Asian male tennis player this time, but someday he can get the major title. Today, Cilic just played tennis better than Kei did. 

Waiting for the Historical Event

Kei Nishikori will fight against Marin Cilic in the U.S. Open Men's Final. Many Japanese people are looking forward to hear the good news, to get the first grand slam title for Japanese. 

Our prefecture's tennis association will hold a public viewing event in Matsue where Kei was born early in the morning. I want to go to the event, but I have to work at that time. I'll be busy to checking the final match on the web tomorrow morning. 

His coach Michael Chan, former French Open Champion, said, "He's hungry, he's eager." He'll do everything he can. 

Kei Faces World No. 1

Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori is about to fight against Novak Djikovic at the U.S. Open Tennis semifinals in NY. 

He was born and rised in my city Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. He moved to the U.S. when he was only 13 years old to be a professional tennis player. At age of 18, he won the ATP taurnament for the first time, and after that he got other four titles, but he never win a grand slam title. 

The next match must be a tough game, but I hope he performs as much as he can and reaches final in the U.S. Open. 

Kei Goes to the Semis

Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach the US Open semifinal since 1918. He won over Stan Wawrinka in five sets on Wednesday.

I didn't watch the whole game, but watched the moment he reached the semis. I was impressed because he only smiled and waved his hands to the audience. He was so modest at that moment. I really like his attitude. 

I hope he will perform well at next match and gets the ticket to the final.