THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2022

Yoshihito Nishioka

Press Conference

E. RUUSUVUORI/Y. Nishioka

6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Bad luck today. How were you feeling out on the court?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: It was very tough day. I had a sick in Eastbourne, and it took like a week to recovery, and still I not perfect I feel.

So I couldn't practice like a week. And then just coming here and little by little getting better, so I hitting on the grass court, but the grass court is very different than hard court.

It's very tough to fix enough to playing the game, and, you know, the last time I played on grass was last year here, which is a year. It's a very long distance the time.

Well, beginning was very tough. I feel I was playing very good, and I can take it, but it's always like important points going to him.

You know, almost I had it, but I couldn't had it. It's feeling a little bit weird, because I'm playing better. I feeling like playing aggressive and playing better points, but I couldn't take it.

Feeling very weird. But, you know, from the third set getting better, so I had a chance. Also, fourth set also it was very close match, but, you know, the small things, it's going to him.

So it's no easy match for today. Feeling not that great, but it was very enjoy the match because mom was here. Yeah, it was enjoy to play here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. You said you have been feeling a bit unwell in the last week or two. What is your schedule now for the upcoming weeks with the North American swing, I guess, maybe next on the agenda? What's your next tournament, for example?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Yeah, going to some challenger, but like I'm not deciding yet, but I think I'm going to.

Yeah, my ranking is getting lower right now, so going to play some challenger and I making the main draw to US Open. It should be like after two weeks more. So maybe two challenger.

Then, yeah, play some U.S. season, which is my favorite. So hopefully I getting better, and then my ranking is going to up and then, you know, try my best.

Q. Regarding your ranking, and of course with there being no points here at Wimbledon this year, does that affect your motivation, especially as you are unwell, does it affect your motivation, there being no ranking points here this year?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Well, yeah, but, you know, for like a ranking system is a little bit weird from the COVID, and then, you know, now is almost like perfect. But couple years for Asian players like having very tough time. Always have to go U.S. or Europe, and still we don't have any tournaments, the big tournament, I mean. Futures, yes, but not for tour events.

Always we having tough time. Not the excuse, but like that's a reason why also sometimes my motivations getting lower, like two years ago. You know, now also I cannot go back home like two months or something again, and this year I just went to home like resting a month.

So, you know, many Asian players doing the same things. Hopefully it's everything recovery, and also for Championships, so no points, yeah, I mean, it's just really tough, this season, for sure.

But some players have it tough, because I heard like Fucsovics (phonetic) or some other players like going to lower ranking, but like no chance to defending the points. Just losing the points. So which some players having tough time. Some players not. But we cannot say anything. I mean, we cannot decision. So just for that.

But for me it's a little bit tough, because I losing the points, as well.