Google News Kei Nishikori: Feel sorry for Novak Djokovic, expected he would win gold medal
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 4586
World No. 67 Kei Nishikori has revealed that he would skip the Citi Open in Washington had he made the semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics. Nishikori made the quarterfinal at the Tokyo Olympics before losing to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
After losing to Djokovic, Nishikori packed and flew to Washington. Nishikori, a former world No. 4, is hoping to climb up the rankings and return to the top-30 by the end of the season. "I was gonna skip the event If I'd reached semifinal at the Games, but I couldn't.
Knew it'd be physically tough to play here, thought about not playing, but need to play considering my current ranking. I'm not a top-10 player, have to play (for ranking points)," Nishikori said, as revealed by Seiadoumogera/Twitter.
"My ranking has dropped to lower than expected, I don't get seeded in any event now. Would like to be back in top 30 until the end of the year."
Nishikori sorry for Djokovic
Djokovic, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, was up by a set and a break in the Tokyo Olympics semifinal against Alexander Zverev.
However, the German refused to quit and he ended up stunning Djokovic in three sets. Zverev later won gold medal, while Djokovic lost in the bronze medal match to Pablo Carreno Busta. "Expected Djokovic would win (gold medal), but he went off from in the middle.
Sashca was next to him, so it was natural he won gold," Nishikori said. "Feel a bit sorry for Djoko, he definitely deserves a medal the most at the moment, has had unbelievable results." On Thursday, Nishikori beat Cameron Norrie to make the Washington quarterfinal.
Nishikori plays next Lloyd Harris, who stunned No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal. "Harris has great serve, good stroke, can move well for his big physique, a dangerous player. My physical condition is not bad, so should be okay physically," Nishikori noted.
