MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 4, 2021

Kei Nishikori

Press Conference

K. NISHIKORI/K. Khachanov

6-7, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk about what kind of adjustments that you made after the first set that helped propel you to your victory? Also, if this is the kind of win that helps restore your confidence?

KEI NISHIKORI: Well, yeah. Definitely I was feeling much better after first set. I think I was a little bit tight and a little too conservative maybe. I think I could go a little more aggressive, so I tried to play little more stepping in and little more aggressive than first set. Then everything start working well.

Q. A quick question about your injury. You obviously were here in Portugal, and I watched you practice pretty well a couple of times. How was it? Did you feel that during the match?

KEI NISHIKORI: Today was good. I was surprised, too, because I couldn't really practice last couple days. Maybe that's why I wasn't feeling good on the court first set.

Took a little while for me to play better again. Maybe I took four days no tennis, four, five days. I was start hitting a little bit without movement.

Yesterday was first time I start playing points and I was okay. Yeah, happy that I had no pain today. I think I can keep going.