Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

TENNIS

Nishikori off to good start at Australian Open

Sports Jan. 17, 2012 - 03:20PM JST ( 13 )

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13 Comments

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ihope2eatwhalesJan. 17, 2012 - 03:39PM JST

He's on his way. Top 10 in 2012.
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cubicJan. 17, 2012 - 04:15PM JST

Nishikori is a decent player, I think he lacks the pure power to break into the top 5 and/or win a slam though.
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Tel PorterJan. 17, 2012 - 06:51PM JST

Great to see him getting the good performances going ~ let's see him go as far as possible! Also interesting to note that Tatsumo Ito (ranked 117th) has progressed through to the 2nd round defeating 62nd ranked Potito Starace. Great to see these two young guns doing Japan proud!
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BurakuminDesJan. 17, 2012 - 09:28PM JST

I see a bright future for tennis in Japan with the lead of this youngster, Nishikori. If he makes the second week like he did in the US Open 4 years ago then that is a huge achievement. Japanese kids in every village and town will soon be picking up racquets, throwing away their baseball mitts and soccer balls, and swarming all over the tennis courts! Will Japan and China be the future kings of tennis? Time will tell...
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BurakuminDesJan. 17, 2012 - 10:02PM JST

Nishikori is a decent player, I think he lacks the pure power to break into the top 5 and/or win a slam though.

I see what you are saying - he doesn't rely on a giant serve or height - but people said the same about Michael Chang, too . He went out and shocked the world with a slam - why not Nishikori?
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spudmanJan. 17, 2012 - 10:36PM JST

Oh no, here we go again with the Japanese piling on the latest sports star fan boy train being pulled by the media. Why not wait till be actually wins something that means something first? Must be cause Japanese male sports stars can't make the grade compared to the women. I hope he does well but the media spin actually makes me NOT want to watch locally broadcast sports.
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BurakuminDesJan. 17, 2012 - 10:42PM JST

C'mon now Spudman - he is the N.B.T. (Next Big Thing.) along with Honda and Ishikawa Get with the programme mate!
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calm downJan. 18, 2012 - 07:19AM JST

This is the year for Air K...keep the fire going son !!! Peaking at the right time as the legends start to age and the new talent starts to sift thru..
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BettingTennis AndNbaJan. 18, 2012 - 07:47AM JST

I hpe Kei can get past round two!
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marcelsJan. 18, 2012 - 09:11AM JST

If kei can stay injury free he should be able to go deep in this slam,however he has to get passed Ebden who will have full support of his new adopted country...
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DentShopJan. 18, 2012 - 09:50AM JST

people said the same about Michael Chang, too

But that was 2 decades ago in a time when serve-volley tennis on slow courts meant you didnt have to be a triathlete to win a big one. These days you have to be 6-foot minimum, 85 kilos and have lats like steel.

I still hope he does well though.
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cubicJan. 18, 2012 - 05:17PM JST

BurakuminDes

I see what you are saying - he doesn't rely on a giant serve or height - but people said the same about Michael Chang, too . He went out and shocked the world with a slam - why not Nishikori?

I think the men's game is different to the days of Chang - the top 4 of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray all have huge power to go with their technique. I suppose if Kei looked at what Andy Murray did (i.e. bulked up and put some real muscle on) he could be a future contender. If he stays as he is, he will probably end up like Gasquet.
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BettingTennis AndNbaJan. 19, 2012 - 09:06PM JST

Kei in round three! Great win!