Kei Nishikori: I leave to Ben McLachlan to lead the game

Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori is open to learning and receiving advice from his doubles partner Ben McLachlan. 

Japan's Nishikori and McLachlan are having a promising duo at the Tokyo Olympics, having reached the Tokyo Olympics quarterfinal. 

Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up, is focused on making a deep run in the singles event at the Olympics but he is also hoping to claim a medal in the doubles event. 

On Monday, Nishikori and McLachlan saw off Great Britain's Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski 6-3 6-4. 

"I leave it to him to lead the game, he knows more about doubles, I want to get advice from him. I also have something that doubles specialist doesn't have, I think that (complementary relationship) makes a good combination," Nishikori said, per Seiadoumogera/Twitter. 

Nishikori and McLachlan managed to implement their game plan and it resulted in a straight-set win. 

"Nishikori-san always hits a winner on his return, I don't have much to do. Opponents were a good team, so we tried to force them to make unforced errors," McLachlan said. 

Murray gave credit to Nishikori and McLachlan 

Nishikori and McLachlan claimed the first break of the match in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. 

Nishikori and McLachlan failed to convert any of their four break points in the sixth game but routinely served out for the opener in the ninth game. 

In the second set, Nishikori and McLachlan saved a break point in the fourth game before breaking Murray and Skupski in the fifth game. 

Nishikori and McLachlan realized their first match point in the 10th game to book a straight-set win. 

“We’re disappointed to lose, obviously. The Olympic Games comes round once every four years and everyone wants to do well, everyone dreams of coming in and winning a medal," Murray said, per Tennis365.

“It was a tough match for us today. I think the other guys played very well, especially at the start to put us under the pump a bit. Just a tough day.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3zEZeOf