CITI OPEN

August 7, 2021

Kei Nishikori

Press Conference

M. McDONALD/K. Nishikori

6-4, 3-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Thank you for coming to D.C. This tournament is always better with you here. That being said, as a veteran now, 31-year-old player, how does it feel to drop a match to a guy who is a little bit younger who admired you as a junior? You're both 5'10", 160, right-handed, have similar games.

KEI NISHIKORI: Well, I think he played good tennis today. I think I didn't start well, but I start playing better, but he was playing really solid till the end.

Credit to him. Yeah, we kind of similar tennis. Good to see him back. I know him well. I'm good friend with him. I'm happy with how he's doing well right now. Yeah, he played some good tennis today.

Q. Coming to Washington, getting over the jet lag and playing some matches, was that helpful for you, will it be helpful for you, do you think, as you move forward to Cincinnati where you have some big matches ahead?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, it was good week. I mean, I didn't want to lose today, but, I mean, still, I had couple good matches, good tennis, and happy how I played today, I mean, this week. Hope I can keep going next week.