Nishikori, Osaka boosting tennis in Japan with US Open runs

The semifinal progression of Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori, both of Japan, has been one of the more captivating stories of the US Open.

For Nishikori, it signals a return to form for the one-time world No.4 who reached the final at Flushing Meadows back in 2014 but who since struggled with a serious wrist injury that sidelined him for several months from late 2017 to early 2018.

For Osaka, eight years younger than Nishikori at age 20, it marks the latest step in her progression from raw talent to a serious contender for the game’s biggest titles.

The Japanese duo became the first male and female players from their country in the Open era to advance to the semifinals of the same Grand Slam tournament.

Nishikori hopes their results will do wonders for the profile of tennis in their homeland, where baseball is the most popular sport.

“I hope people watching us today. Hopefully many people cheering and support for us,” he said after his five-set win over Marin Cilic on Wednesday.

NEWS: Nishikori beats Cilic in five-set thriller

“And even here I saw a lot of Japanese coming up for the tournament. It’s good to have home support outside of Japan. It’s great news – we both in semis and yeah hopefully we do well this week.”

Nishikori left Japan as a young teenager to develop his game in Florida at Nick Bollettieri’s academy.

Osaka, who was born in Japan, spent even less time in the country of her birth; she was living in New York by age three, the daughter of a Haitian father and Japanese mother.

She, too, found her way to Florida to hone her skills.

Osaka said she was grateful for the Japanese press interest she receives – something she attributed to Nishikori and his profile.

“He’s really nice – he’s probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” she said after her quarterfinal thumping of Lesia Tsurenko.

“We recently started talking; I think it’s because I was too shy to talk to him before this tournament. But then I started talking to him and I think he was surprised about me talking to him. So yeah, he’s really cool.

“I don’t know if I’m gonna get in trouble if I say this … I just think he’s like a really big kid. I don’t know how to describe it. He plays games and stuff too, so I think we’re pretty similar in that sense, and overall he’s just really nice and positive and bubbly and stuff.”

Nishikori was amused when Osaka’s comments were relayed to him during his press conference.

“She looks mature and she looks older, but when we talk, she’s also kid,” he laughed.

“Well we don’t play same game, so I wish we can play together, same game, maybe in the future. We gotta talk (laughter).

“It’s great to see she’s doing well, because she has won the Masters (at Indian Wells earlier this year) and I think she can win the title now, even though Grand Slam. I feel big chance for her.”