Nishikori delighted with Chang influence

Top-ranked Japanese credits coach for making it to last 16 of Wimbledon.

LONDON: Japan’s Kei Nishikori said working with former world number two Michael Chang was paying dividends as he reached the last 16 at Wimbledon for the first time on Monday.

Nishikori needed only four games to complete a 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7/4), 6-4 defeat of Italian Simone Bolelli after their third round match had been halted by bad light on Saturday.

The 24-year-old 10th seed is enjoying the most consistent year of his career, reaching the last 16 of the Australian Open and the Madrid Masters final as well as claiming two ATP titles.

He said it was no coincidence that his form had improved after employing former French Open champion Chang.

“It’s been great,” said Nishikori. “It’s already six or seven months and yeah, I love how he coaches me.

“My tennis is also changing. You see my ranking is much higher than last year. So, obviously his help is something, for sure.”

Meanwhile, fifth seeded Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka defeated Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last 16 as well.

Wozniacki wants clock clampdown

Caroline Wozniacki called for on-court clocks to be installed to clamp down on Wimbledon time-wasters after the former world number one crashed out in the fourth round on Monday.

Wozniacki was the latest victim of giant-killer Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, the unseeded Czech who claimed another famous scalp to move into the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 7-5 victory.

Zahlavova Strycova, the world number 43, had enjoyed the best win of her career in the previous round when she defeated Chinese second seed Li Na and she added Danish 16th seed Wozniacki to her list of upsets.

But Wozniacki was unhappy with the length of time Zahlavova Strycova took between points, claiming the Czech’s routine stopped her establishing any rhythm.

“I thought she was very slow,” said Wozniacki. “But I guess it’s up to the referee to decide that.”

She also agreed with Roger Federer’s opinion that clocks may have to be installed on court to hurry up the slower players with the seven-time Wimbledon champion, fearing that the pedestrian pace of some matches could lead to fans turning their backs on the sport.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2014.

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