[Deivid23]

Good luck in AO, Kei, hope you can play without pain

Any further updates in Japanese media concerning how that elbow is doing? Much appreciated

[*bunny*]

Hey welcome Deivid23.

The match has just started and Kei is NOT wearing anything on his right elbow!
He's wearing a black bandana, like during Day 3 of Japan Open last year.

Wow Kei breaks now, *3-2! He saved one BP in the fourth game.

[Rafkei]

Yay! First break of serve, hope he consolidates it.

Is he moving well? It sucks that i can't watch the match. I wanted to missed work just to watch Kei play but i cant.

Bunny keep us updated. Thanks

[*bunny*]

From The Daily Telegraph two days ago:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ten...lian-Open.html

Japan rest hopes on Kei Nishikori ahead of Australian Open

By Mark Hodgkinson in Melbourne
Last Updated: 2:00PM GMT 18 Jan 2009

These days, the Australian Open is marketed as the grand slam of Asia and the Pacific, not just as the Down Under Slam.

And it is now the case that Australia's highest ranked player, Lleyton Hewitt, is lower down the computer print-out than Japan's No 1.

That is half down to the fact Hewitt is at his lowest position for a decade, and also because of the rise and rise of Kei Nishikori, a 19-year-old from Shimane, a town close to Hiroshima, and a young player with plenty of talent in that racket-arm.

It is not going to be long before Nishikori, who was No 59 on last week's list, is a top-50 player.

Japan's tennis culture and traditions are not nearly as strong as Australia's, so you can imagine the excitement felt here by the crew of Wow Wow, the wonderfully-named television network from Japan, especially as Nishikori could play the bookmakers' favourite, Andy Murray, in the third round.

Murray is sponsored by the likes of Highland Spring; Nishikori has a 'Cup Noodle' patch on his arm. They can't get enough of Nishikori back in Japan.

Nishikori was just 18 years old when he won the Delray Beach title last year by beating American James Blake in the final, making him the youngest man to score a tournament victory on the tour since Hewitt in 1998.

Later in the season, he made the fourth round of the US Open, and this Australian Open will only be his third grand slam tournament.

Even so, Nishikori is already close to achieving the highest ranking in history by a Japanese male, as last Monday's list had him just 13 places behind Shuzo Matsuoka's peak of No 46.

Nishikori's father, Kiyoshi, is an engineer, and his mother, Eri, is a piano teacher, but as soon as Kei picked up a racket at the age of five it was obvious that he had some tennis talent.

When Nishikori was 14, and when he couldn't speak a word of English, he moved to Florida to train at the Nick Bollettieri Academy, and such was the enthusiasm there for him to break Matsuoka's record that he was referred to as 'Project 45'.

"I hope to become the highest ranked Japanese man in tennis history this year. I've been surprised at how quickly I have moved up the rankings. I couldn't believe it when I won Delray Beach. That was the biggest jump for me." said Nishikori, who only turned 19 last month.

"I get a lot of attention in Japan. I get a good feeling from that. I live in the United States, and only go back for two months a year, and it's unbelievable the attention I get.

"In Tokyo and the other big cities, I always have people coming up to talk to me, to take pictures of me. Baseball and soccer are the most popular sports in Japan, but I hope I can make tennis more popular back home, I guess. It's getting more popular already. All the kids are starting to play, and maybe that's because of me."

One concern for 'Project 45' ahead of his first-round match against Austria's Jurgen Melzer is that he has some soreness in his arm. But he hopes he can make it past Melzer.

Maybe then he could set up a possible match with Murray. "I like Murray's tennis," said Nishikori. "Murray can do almost anything."

[Ivanatis]

gooooo Kei beat the Austrian

[*bunny*]

Hya RafKei!!
His footwork is looking great and his shot placement is as good as ever, he has wrongfooted Melzer several times already.
So far Melzer is winning in the winner count: 12 to Kei's five; maybe Kei is being cautious not to hit too hard.
He holds to 30 5-3*


Hya to Deck too!

[*bunny*]

Melzer's DF and UE (hitting FH long) gives Kei 2 SPs!

[*bunny*]

One saved, Kei's FH downthe line just wide; Melzer saves the second SP with a good serve.
The Austrian holds. *5-4

[*bunny*]

15-0 Melzer service return long
15-15 Kei FH long
15-30 Kei can't return Melzer drop volley.
15-40 Melzer FH cc winner

[*bunny*]

Ouch Melzer breaks back.
Kei's approach to the net ended up in giving Melzer a chance to pass...

[*bunny*]

BP Kei.
Melzer volleys into the net.
Deuce....

[*bunny*]

Ad Melzer...Kei is telling the ump Melzer's serve was fault.
But the ump won't change his mind. Melzer holds. 6-5*

[Rafkei]

O oh, looking like a tie break, hope he will not be broken again

cmon kei!

[*bunny*]

Kei's drop shot out, 15-30
Long rally, Kei's FH into the net 15-40...2 SP

[*bunny*]

Good serve, 30-40
Booo Melzer passing shot gives him the first set 7-5