Kei Nishikori became the seventh player to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The Japanese number one qualified after Rafael Nadal defeated Richard Gasquet in the Swiss Indoors Basel on Saturday. That win from Nadal mathematically eliminated Gasquet from getting into the top eight and officially put Nishikori and Ferrer in. Despite being on the same points as Ferrer, Nishikori is the seventh qualifier since his current ranking is ahead of Ferrer’s. This is the second consecutive year Nishikori has qualified for London.
Nishikori’s Season To Date
The Japanese number one began his season on a bright note, making the semifinals in Brisbane than the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. Nishikori would lift his first title of the season in February as he defeated Kevin Anderson in the final but had to battle his way to get there, winning in three three-setters against Americans before defeating the South African.
It would be back-to-back finals for Nishikori by making the Abierto Mexicano Telcel but did not take home the title, losing to Ferrer. Nishikori had the benefit of not having to meet Nadal in Barcelona as he lifted his second title of the season after defeating Pablo Andujar. Nishikori’s success on clay continued at Madrid but lost to eventual champion Andy Murray in the semifinals. He nearly overturned a two-set deficit against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals of the French Open but lost in five.
It was a tough summer for Nishikori as an injury hampered him at Wimbledon, and he was knocked out early at the US Open but did find solace in taking home the Citi Open title and making the semifinals of the Rogers Cup. The Asian swing was mixed feelings for the Japanese number one. He failed to defend his Tokyo Open title after losing to his US Open conqueror, Benoit Paire, in the semifinals. He then lost in his second match at the Shanghai Rolex Masters to Kevin Anderson.