US OPEN

September 4, 2021

Kei Nishikori

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/K. Nishikori

6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Could you just give your thoughts on today's match.

KEI NISHIKORI: Well, tough loss. I thought I was playing much better than last couple matches we played, and in some moment he was playing very solid that I couldn't, like, break the wall.

Yeah, very unfortunate loss today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. I'm just wondering, you have played Novak Djokovic so many times in your career, but you have never played him when he's going for what he's going for at the moment with the calendar Grand Slam. Did you feel that he was any different? Was there any stress you could sense on him? Was he a bit more vulnerable or was it just the same Novak Djokovic as always?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, I would say he was same. I knew it's not gonna be easy after winning first set. He's very, very tough till the end. The way he plays is not an easy match for me that he plays to all the balls. He was serving good towards the end.

Yeah, I felt pretty same intensity, good intensity from him. Maybe he's feeling that inside a lot of pressure, but I don't know. I couldn't see during the match.