Asian players do not have to go to other countries to find the same success as him, says Kei Nishikori, but they do have additional challenges in reaching the upper levels of the tour.
Nishikori, who attended the IMG Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in the United States, said he drew inspiration from his proximity to the top names on Florida's courts.
"I don't think it's the only way. But for me was very good opportunity because there was a lot of top players in IMG Academy, and I was able to hit with them. I was always look up for those top players, you know, like Tommy Haas, I was hitting with, and Max Mirnyi," he said at the ATP World Tour Finals. "That's why I can see the goals, you know."
But Nishikori sees being based in Asia, while most smaller tournaments are elsewhere, as a geographic obstacle for players in the region. "I don't know," he said. "It's tough situation for Asian players because all the tournaments in Europe and U.S. It's not easy to go and come back all the time.”
The 25-year-old also agreed that the Asian tradition of showing deference to elders can also prevent players from aiming to down big names when they play.
"I was struggling with that actually," said Nishikori. "When I was junior, I wasn't thinking too much, so I was able to play good tennis with anyone. But after turning pro, I was feeling a lot of respect to everybody actually, especially top players. Like first time I play Roger, couldn't play anything because I respect too much. I wasn't go for win actually. I was just, you know, play tennis against my idol. That was one of the problem I had."
It required a change in mentality, one that was not easy to achieve. "You know, you have to believe yourself," he said, adding that seeing other Asians competing with the best players helped him. "Yeah, I think one of the reason I see Li Na and [Paradorn] Srichaphan, I was looking up to them. I felt a lot of motivation from them."
Nishikori is the first Asian man to finish in the Top 8 and reach the ATP World Tour Finals.