‘I’m back to 100%’, says Nishikori after knee setback

Rotterdam – Japan’s
Kei Nishikori insisted on Sunday he is back to ‘100 percent’ as he
returns to action after a right knee injury forced a painful exit at the
Australian Open last month.

The 29-year-old is top seed in Rotterdam where he is looking for a
second title of 2019 following a season-opening triumph in Brisbane.

World number seven Nishikori, who is no stranger to injury, saw his
pursuit of a first Grand Slam title stall when he was forced to quit his
Australian Open quarter-final at 6-4, 4-1 down to eventual champion
Novak Djokovic in January.

“I am feeling well. It took maybe one week and a little bit to get
100 per cent, but now physically I am going well. I practiced well last
week in Florida,” said Nishikori on Sunday.

“It’s going to be an interesting challenge this week. It’s a strong
tournament and many good players are playing, so it will be tough. 

“I used to play (this week) in Memphis and last year in New York, but I like indoors and that’s why I chose to come here.”

The Asian number one starts his Rotterdam campaign against France’s
Pierre-Hugues Herbert who was runner-up to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in
Montpellier on Sunday.

Seeded second is last November’s Paris Bercy champion Karen Khachanov
of Russia with Greek breakthrough star Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat
Roger Federer on his way to the Australian Open semi-finals, taking the
third seeding.

Number four seed is Canada’s Milos Raonic, a quarter-finalist in Melbourne.

The field also features Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov, with
2015 Rotterdam champion – and three-time major winner – Stan Wawrinka
also in the draw.