CITI OPEN

August 7, 2022

Yoshihito Nishioka

Press Conference

N. KYRGIOS/Y. Nishioka

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: I know this is probably not the result you would have expected today, but still, overall, a very good week for you. How would you sum it up?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Well, yeah. It was tough day for me. Couldn't take a trophy for second one, but, well, I try my best today. A little bit my body was tired.

Couldn't figure out how to beat Kyrgios today. But, you know, I try my best what I can do today, and then still he was playing better than me, which is very tough day. But I'm very happy to play final here. Since Delray Beach this is the third final, and then, you know, just very excited to play.

I was very enjoyed this week. I got very confidence right now and in my ranking, it's going up, so, you know, I can play with confidence on Open, as well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You got broken early in each set against Nick today. With the way his serve is, does that make it just feel like a very tough mountain to climb once you fall behind by a break against him?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Yes. That was my mistake. I was thinking I need to keep my serve and put on pressure his service game, but if he break my service game earlier, and, you know, he's not going to get pressure on his service game. So that was my mistake.

Both sets, first my service game, he broke my service, and then started his service game. Yeah, which is tough with that. So that's the reason I think I couldn't figure out his service game, and then, yeah, he played very well without the pressure. Yeah, that was my mistake.

Q. What makes it difficult to get into his service games?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Well, you know, he have big serve. And then most tough thing is he can hit second service like first serve. So I cannot play a little bit aggressive to his second serve, because I have to worry about his second service coming like a first serve.

You know, it's not 100% he make, but his percentage is pretty high. So I have to go more play aggressive on his second serve, but I still have to think about his second serve may be coming like first service.

So that was a little bit tough to play against him, his service game, and then, yeah, that was the most tough things, I think his service game.

Q. Where do you rank that on tour, his serve?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Like just service or service game?

Q. The whole package, yeah, service game.

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Well, I think he has the best service on tour, No. 1. Well, it's not just service. Service game. It's I think most tough to break his service game on the tour. That's what I think.

I think just service, maybe Opelka or -- I think Opelka is the best. But service game is different.

Q. How so?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Well, you know, Nick can move, as well. He's not gonna miss ground stroke that much. He can make a lot ball, as well, when he got pressure. Sometimes he going to be crazy, but when he very focused on racquet today, he not gonna miss easy ball.

So then I cannot play like that much aggressive on his service game, because I don't want to miss, but like when I have like today, the first set he couldn't make a lot first serve, but still, I cannot play aggressive on his second service, because when I got a second service, I want to make more a lot balls and play more rallies.

But if I can play more aggressive and then play more like try to make a winner or going to some net or something, maybe I had a chances, but, you know, I have pressure and I don't want to make -- I don't want to take a risk. So I play a little bit too safe.

But, you know, because he can play on ground stroke as well, that's a big reason I got so much pressure on his service game, as well.

Opelka or Isner, they can also play ground stroke but not like Kyrgios. That's big difference. Yeah.

Q. You have known Nick for a while. You have played him several times over many years. You talked about him being focused today. I'm just wondering, did his behavior or his demeanor or his focus seem different today than maybe the first time you played him or when you have played him in the past?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Yeah. I mean, I think he having great year right now. He made a final at Wimbledon. Then I saw his result this year. He play only like few tournaments, but still, he got a point from Wimbledon, he's already like top 20, which is great result he have this year.

So I think he has very confidence, and then maybe his mentality is much better than like few years ago.

Q. Did it seem different to you during the match?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Ah, yes, yes. Today I can feel a little bit he a little bit nervous, but when he got nervous, I think he's very focused on match.

When he has like more without the pressure and then he's going to be like a little bit, you know, like showing something, but today I think he really want to win, so I can feel he's a little bit tight.

But when he play a little bit tight, it's very tough to play against him. Yeah, I think he was really focused on today and then maybe I think this year, and, yeah, which is very different few years ago I play against him than today.

Q. Congrats on the awesome week you just had. You said out there in the postmatch interview you thought about maybe retiring from tennis, but obviously a week like this must make you want to keep going. Does it make you more excited to play tennis? Do you know what other tournaments you might play this year leading up to the Open?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Yeah. Yes, I said about this after Aussie Open and when I lost first round, and then press conference I spoke to the Japanese media, if I can't make top 50 again or like win the tour or something like that, and then maybe I will finish my career or changing mind something different way about tennis.

So, yeah, but before I play here, even I haven't good year too. Well, my motivate was going down, but I don't know what's going on this week (smiling). I wasn't imagine like before I come here I play in final. But, well, now I got confidence. I can feel I can play against big players and top players like this time.

So I play Montreal and then I cannot play Cincinnati this year, but I have Winston-Salem and US Open here, which is my favorite tournament on the tour.

I think I can keep going right now. I can see my career high ranking, which is 48. So now I should be like 54 or 55 or something, so it should be a little bit more. Then I can make my career high. Yeah, just keep looking forward and then try my best career.