Kei NISHIKORI

Nishikori is driven by a lifelong quest to improve his game. He moved to Bradenton, Florida at the age of 14 to get the best coaching available, and has since been coached by Brad Gilbert and Michael Chang.

He is coming into some form, too. At the start of last season, he won the Brisbane International – his first tournament win since 2016. He was defeated in the quarter finals of the French Open by Rafa Nadal, and the quarter final of Wimbledon by Roger Federer.

Nishikori is largely a baseline player, with extremely consistent and fast shots on both his forehand and backhand: many rate his two handed backhand as the best on the tour. He is renowned for his return of serve, and his ability to play defensively and grind his opponents down. A supremely fit player, he relishes five-set matches: has the highest percentage of deciding set wins in the open era.

It could all serve him well in Tokyo. The ambition to win in his homeland can’t be questioned.

“For me, the Olympics will be the biggest event of the year,” he says. “I want to peak for the Olympics, so I may have to change a few things to prepare properly. “Tokyo is very hot and humid in the summer, so I’ll have to be careful.”