[*bunny*]

Kei wins!

[iramlatif]

huge congrats to kei. wow - stunning!! best of luck to him in his next round

[silverwhite]

[Mae]

Kei I'm so proud of him But I'm a little worried that all these 5 Sets Matches will catch up with him

[DanaKz]

This is soooo bittersweet for me.

[chewy]

Kei's physical training is really paying off! Plus his composure and being able to stay clear headed to close out the match.

I HOPE ALL KEI SUPPORTERS ARE AS HAPPY AS I AM!!! I'm still flooded with emotions so I don't even know what I'm saying... I'm sure Kei is enjoying this too :P

[*bunny*]

Originally Posted by DanaKz

This is soooo bittersweet for me.

!

Jo was so graceful in defeat. He's a very good sports!

Hope Kei has something left in his tank vs Murray.
I think he should cancel mixed doubles tomorrow..

[*bunny*]

Kei will probably break into top 20 with this result.

[DanaKz]

Do you know how much I hate when my favs play one against other? Because I never can be glad for winner - I am too sad for loser. Today I'd be sad anyway and only thing I root for was 3-setter. But nooo, they played five!

[*bunny*]

Originally Posted by DanaKz

Do you know how much I hate when my favs play one against other? Because I never can be glad for winner - I am too sad for loser. Today I'd be sad anyway and only thing I root for was 3-setter. But nooo, they played five!

I know! I hated it when Juan Carlos and Kei played in Brisbane three years ago and admit I felt a bit relieved when Kei had to retire... bad fan I am.

[minh]

Huge win for Kei, an unbelieveable match. Kei deserves this. Congratulation.

Kei will play Murray in QF, that'll be tough for Kei indeed after having passed many intensive 5-set matches.I believe if Kei has the same conditions with Murray, Kei will be able to surprise him. Anyways, I really hope Kei will be vigorous enough to play equally with Murray

[*bunny*]

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...302422777.html

K. NISHIKORI/J. Tsonga

2‑6, 6‑2, 6‑1, 3‑6, 6‑3

Q. Obviously the game plan was to play to his backhand, yes?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah. Yeah, I watch some matches this last week. You know, he was hitting bombs, a lot of forehands, a lot of inside out. I was, yeah, try to be careful at the start, tried to go his backhand.
Yeah, just tried to be solid.

Q. You were yawning on the way in. Was a very tiring match?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yes, I guess I'm tired. Yeah, played two five sets this last two weeks. Yeah, it was hot condition, too. I mean, score, it looks easy. But, yeah, it was tough match today.

Q. Do you feel okay?

KEI NISHIKORI: I think so (smiling).

Q. Tsonga has been quite famous for five‑set matches at the Australian Open. Were you prepared to go the distance against him today?

KEI NISHIKORI: No. Of course, I want to finish three set. I started slow I think today. I was missing a lot, a lot of unforced errors first set, then start playing well in second set.
But, yeah, there was second win five set these two weeks. Yeah, I'm very confidence.

Q. Will you still play mixed doubles tomorrow?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, for sure.

Q. Can you explain the problem with the surface at the start of the second set.

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah. I guess it was too hot. You know, first of all I didn't know what's happen. Ball didn't bounce. I thought it's going to, you know, replay the point. But they say no. But I broke that game. So, you know, it worked well for me.

Q. So it was a good break for you, the interruption?

KEI NISHIKORI: I guess so. I didn't want to take a break, but we have to, so... Nothing we could do.

Q. You said you had some messages from people back home this week. Can you tell us about who's been sending you messages and what they've said.

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, a lot of people congrats me. Always email me after the matches. A lot of people from works in Japan, tennis association. Yeah, a lot of people.

Q. Are you aware of the impact that your career is having? Are more young kids playing tennis in Japan?

KEI NISHIKORI: I am not sure. Hopefully people, especially kids, start playing tennis. But, yeah, first of all I have to play well and I have to give them good news, to Japan. You know, if that helps Japan, I'm really happy.

Q. You're the first Japanese man into the Australian Open quarterfinal since 1932. Do you know who that was?

KEI NISHIKORI: No, sorry (smiling).

Q. Do you feel a lot of pressure seeing as it's been such a long time since a Japanese player has reached the quarterfinal?

KEI NISHIKORI: Never. I never feel the pressure. You know, it's very honor to make a lot of histories, to be No. 1 player in Japan. But that never gives me the pressure.

[b]Q. How tough was it to close the match today?[]/b

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, it was tough because, you know, he was still playing well in the fifth. Yeah, I was having trouble with making returns. I start getting nervous. Yeah, I was tired, too. It was tough to finish.
But still I was playing aggressive, you know, on important points. I was making good serves. So that helps me to get the games.

Q. Do you feel like this is the biggest step of your career?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, this is first quarterfinal for me. Yeah, best result is 2008 US Open round of 16. That was couple years ago. And I played well end of last year, and now it's like this. So, yeah, I feel I'm stepping up.

Q. How do you see your next match?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, honestly I was surprised it finished. I watched the score, finish 6‑1, 6‑1 and he retired.
Andy, we played last year, end of last year. He kind of destroy me. But, you know, I have no pressure now. He's one of the players I have to play like him. I learn a lot of things from him.
Yeah, it's going to be tough, but I try to do my best tennis.

Q. How do you regard your influence as a role model to inspire especially young male players from East Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, and China?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, honestly there's a lot of good players in Asia. But, yeah, I'm happy to get to the top from Asia, and hopefully I can be like Li Na for the men.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

[*bunny*]

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...300015397.html

K. NISHIKORI/J. Tsonga

2‑6, 6‑2, 6‑1, 3‑6, 6‑3

Q. How difficult was it out there?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, it was tough. Was tough. I had a good opponent today. Yeah, was difficult. The ball was playing a lot because of the temperature. I didn't play, you know, a really good tennis. I didn't control, you know, everything.
Yeah, it was not a nice moment, I mean for me.

Q. It seems like you struggled to handle his serve even though Kei served not that fast. Is there any explanation?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: About what, sorry? About my ankle?

Q. About his serve.

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: No. Like I said before, because the ball was flying in the air a lot, it was just difficult. But that's it.

Q. His second serve bounces very high? Is that why it's tough to handle?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, maybe. I don't know.

Q. Your size, your power, the conditions today negate your power over Kei.

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: I don't know. Usually I'm good. Usually I'm good. But he was just better than me.
I mean, I will go out of the court, you know, I still feel like I'm fresh. But I lost this one. You know, sometimes it's not about run on the court or feel good on the court. It's about your technique, I mean, about how you feel the ball, and that's it.

Q. Do you have any pressure when you play serve?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: Yeah, of course. When you have a guy in front of you who return everything, even when you serve 215, it put lot of pressure, of course, yeah.

Q. You played Kei two times, Shanghai and also Kooyong. You lost both of them. What makes Kei tough to play?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: It's tough to play against him because he run a lot and everything's coming back. Even when he's far in the point, he come back on his line. Yeah, that's why.

Q. What do you think Kei's chances are against Andy Murray?

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: He's going to have some chance, of course. But he will need a good recovering. And, yeah, after that I think, if he play in the sun like this, he can do something.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

[Rafkei]

I am so thrilled with that win from Kei! Good thing today is a holiday because of Chinese New Year so i was able to see the match. I was really nervous definitely in every point and was shouting everytime Kei wins a point especially during break points. I never really feel that passionate towards a tennis player since Paradorn, and that seeing Kei and all his achievements makes me really proud to be an Asian.

I really feel he has a great chance against Murray, i am just a bit concerned that he has to play Mixed doubles tomorrow, i hope he won't get too tired.

Again congrats Kei, and congrats to all of us here! I think the number of frustrations that we got due to Kei's injury is really being rewarded right now.

[chewy]

Originally Posted by DanaKz

Do you know how much I hate when my favs play one against other? Because I never can be glad for winner - I am too sad for loser. Today I'd be sad anyway and only thing I root for was 3-setter. But nooo, they played five!

I like Jo too, luckily for me Kei is one of my all time fav.