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TENNIS-USA-OPEN-OSAKA-NISHIKORI
Nishikori backs Osaka to give Serena strong US Open challenge
NEW YORK, Sept 8, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Kei Nishikori couldn’t make it two
Japanese players in the US Open finals, but he backed compatriot Naomi Osaka
to give Serena Williams a run for her money in the women’s championship
match.
“I’m sure she’s going to have a chance to beat Serena,” Nishikori said
Friday. “I think Naomi can stay with her.”
Osaka, 20, is the first Japanese woman to reach a Grand Slam final, where
she’ll be taking on 23-time major winner Williams.
Osaka and Nishikori had already made history as the first Japanese duo to
reach the women’s and men’s semi-finals at the same Slam.
But Nishikori, runner-up to Marin Cilic in the 2014 US Open, couldn’t take
the next step, falling to Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on
Friday.
Nishikori, the first man representing an Asian country to make a Grand
Slam final, was asked if he had any advice for Osaka.
“I think she’s going to be fine,” he said after watching Osaka beat 2017
runner-up Madison Keys in straight sets to reach the final.
“She was playing unbelievable tennis,” he said. “I’m sure it’s different,
finals and semis, but I hope she can enjoy it and play a good level.”
BSS/AFP/SSS/0914 hrs