ROLAND GARROS

June 4, 2021

Kei Nishikori

Press Conference

K. NISHIKORI/H. Laaksonen

7-5, [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Obviously not the way you want a match to end, but in one sense, it works to the benefit of yourself because it gives you a little bit of extra time? And the conditions would have been a bit heavier out there today?

KEI NISHIKORI: Well, yeah. Have to say definitely that was big chance for me for giving me play just one set today and look to recover well today and tomorrow. Especially against Sascha I have next. You know, I have been losing to him last two matches or two tournaments in a row. This is third weeks in a row.

Not easy, but it will gives me a little bit of chance to get back to 100% again. Yeah, I'm kind of excited to play.

Q. I just wanted to ask your opinion of the Tokyo Olympics which is coming into sharp focus now. What's your understanding, what are you being told from Tokyo about the logistics of the event and what's happening? Do you seem confident the Games will happen?

KEI NISHIKORI: I don't know. I don't have any news. I think we have all same news that, you know, whatever hearing, I'm hearing too. I don't know what's gonna happen. But seems like they are strongly keep saying they will do it, you know, no matter what. That's what IOC saying.

You know, as a player, you know, I just have to be ready and mentally ready. I mean, of course, you know, I want it to happen, but if you think about what's happening now in Japan and in the world, you know, it's tough to say. I really want to do it now. I think players in tough situation right now.

Q. You just mentioned Sascha Zverev for the next round. What do you need to do to reverse the results of recent times?

KEI NISHIKORI: Well, I feel like these courts have been pretty fast. Maybe today was the only day felt little heavier because the rain.

I'm pretty sure, I haven't seen him play this week, but he's serving pretty good, I will guess. I think that's something I have to take care of if I want to beat him. So I think that's something I have to work on, my return game.

Yeah, have to find something. I mean, last game was pretty close. I pretty sure I'm gonna have some chances, but obviously he's good player and tough player, so I have to figure it out a little bit with my coaches.

Q. A decision hasn't been taken yet about whether fans will be allowed into the Tokyo Olympics. If they decide in the next couple of weeks that it has to be a spectator-free games, as someone who would be celebrated when you go to Tokyo next month, how will that make you feel if you're playing in front of empty stands at Olympic Games in your home country?

KEI NISHIKORI: Well, if that's so, I will really happy to play on the court, but I'm really guessing right now it's gonna be really tough with spectators, you know, with this situation, I'm sure if there is, it will make some COVID case little more than if there is no spectators, so that's also the tough part.

You know, without anyone on the court, you know, just the team members, that's not gonna fun for me, and you don't feel like playing Olympics, you know, in your home country. So that's the only thing giving me a little bit of shame, you know, if there is no one watching.

But we'll see what they're gonna say.