There’s a certain sense of déjà vu surrounding Kei Nishikori, who returns to Wimbledon under an injury cloud for a second year.
In 2015 the No.5 seed retired in the semi-finals of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle with a calf strain that forced him to withdraw before his second-round showdown with Santiago Giraldo.
This year it was a rib injury that has hampered his preparations in Germany, where he withdrew before his second-round match with eventual champion Florian Mayer.
Grand Slams are unforgiving arenas when fully fit, let alone while nursing aches and pains.
But while Nishikori admitted he was “close to 100 per cent...not 100 per cent yet,” he is confident he has recovered sufficiently to take on big-serving Australian Sam Groth in the first round and push on towards the second week for just the second time in his career.
“Feeling good,” he said on Saturday. “I’ve had almost one week [since] I got injured, so should be fine. I’ve been practising really well these couple days – two days ago I played Gasquet two sets. Should be OK for Monday.”
If I can win a couple of matches with good tennis, I think I will get more confidence on grass...
Nishikori accepts that grass is not his best surface – “not my best yet,” at any rate. His only second-week appearance at The Championships came in 2014, when he lost to eventual semi-finalist Milos Raonic in the fourth round.
The run sparked his best 12 months at the majors – he downed Raonic, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic to reach the US Open final, where he met an inspired Marin Cilic, and made quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
“It's always my goal to get to quarter-finals, semis here because I haven't done really well on the grass court season,” said the 26-year-old. “Usually I’ve got injured. Same as last year – I got hurt in Halle and I couldn't play, I pulled out second round here. Little bit unfortunate, too.
“But if I can win a couple of matches with good tennis, I think I will get more confidence on grass, and I will get good rhythm on a grass court. The first couple matches are very important for me here this week.”
Groth on grass poses a threat, no matter the opponent. The man with the fastest serve in tennis, once clocked at 163.7mph, was one of two men to take a set from Roger Federer at last year’s championships; the other, Djokovic.
“Tough first round, especially on grass,” Nishikori admitted, adding that Groth had a “great serve. Aggressive player – I’ll try to stay focused first match and try to play good tennis.”
Even among the players, all eyes are on Djokovic, holder of all four Grand Slam titles following his first Roland Garros triumph earlier this month. The Serb has lost just two Grand Slam matches in the past two years – to Stan Wawrinka in Paris last year, and to Nishikori in New York. Djokovic is beatable – and Nishikori knows who could beat him.
“Andy [Murray], he's playing really well. Also you see Milos Raonic, and a couple of young guys doing really well, too,” said the world No.6.
Does he include himself in that bracket, even on grass? “Obviously he's a great player, No.1 player right now, so not easy to beat Novak. But I think we’re getting closer to him. Like I said, I need more confidence to win a couple more matches. I think that's all I need right now.”
