Kei Nishikori Plays Doubles with Japanese Soccer Star Keisuke Honda
Tennis - Japan's Kei Nishikori warmed up for next week's Australian Open by playing doubles with soccer star Keisuke Honda, a former member of Japan's national soccer team. Playing an exhibition doubles match, Nishikori commented, "(Honda) is one of the athletes I respect the most. He has a lot of things I don't have."
Honda, who currently plays as a midfielder at Melbourne Victory, commented, "I'm older than (Nishikori) but it doesn't feel that way. I get inspiration whenever I see him. I wasn't able to win the World Cup, so I want Nishikori to do his best."
Honda retired from Japan's national soccer team after the World Cup in Russia last year where he created history by becoming the first Japanese player to score at three World Cups. Japan ended up losing in the round of 16 to Belgium. Nishikori enters the Australian Open, having won the ATP Brisbane International title and is seeded No. 8 in Melbourne. He will be aiming to win the first Grand Slam title of his career. He plays Polish player Kamil Majchrzak in the first round.
Nishikori has said that his goal for 2019 is to win a Grand Slam title and get back to the Top 5 of the world rankings in 2019, having peaked at No. 4 in the rankings earlier.
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from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2VLWPOw
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