AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2023

Yoshihito Nishioka

Press Conference

Y. NISHIOKA/M. Mcdonald

7-6, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Yoshihito Nishioka. First of all, congratulations, Yoshi. This is your first time into the last 16 at a Grand Slam, and it's also your 100th ATP Tour level win. Also, you are the only third person to do so in Japan after Kei and Shuzo. What does this all mean to you?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Yeah, many things coming. Well, today actually I'm very sorry to him. You know, after first set he couldn't hit in service, so I know that's not the best tennis for him. But it's big moment for me as well. You know, first time reaching a round 16. That's first my goal for this year.

Well, first of all, yeah, very happy for right now. Still I'm in tournament, which is great. I never done before, so very exciting. Hopefully I can reach quarterfinal as well, and then it's going to be awesome, but...

Yeah, today I think many things coming to me, which is a little bit not an easy match because I never played against, like, many under-serves against.

Actually, I don't know what sure I can do. But anyway I find a win. I'm still here. So hopefully I do more better tennis on Sunday.

(Questions in national language).

THE MODERATOR: Could you help us understand a bit more about being the leading character in Japanese men's tennis? Does that give you extra motivation or pressure?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: Well, I don't have any pressure with this. But, you know, when Kei coming out for tour when I was still junior and then when he went to very good success, you know, I just turned professional or something like that. I think most of the Japanese players were looking for him, and we want to like him.

Then still I want to be like him, but now he is injury. Now I'm, like, almost top 30, top 20. I have junior tournament right now in Japan. When I spoke to them, they were very interested to be like me, like Kei. A couple of years ago the choice only Kei, but right now there's choice also include me as well.

So I feel very old (laughing), and that's very happy moment for me as well. But I want to show more, like, my height is lower than average height in Japanese, so hopefully the top players I want to show, like, can be like this and also Asian players. I don't have any pressure with this, but just want to show, like, we can do it.

THE MODERATOR: Last question. Speaking of doing more next round, you are facing either Tiafoe or Khachanov. What is going to be your preparation there?

YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA: For Khachanov we played in Washington D.C. and the moment I won, but it was really close. Actually, when we played each other, it's always very close match. It can be happen both way.

Tiafoe, we didn't play a long time, I think, and actually we didn't practice that much as well, but we know each other.

But both have big serve, big forehand. So for sure they're going to try to be overpower to me. So very important thing is how much I can give the pressure to them, and I think that's very important.