Kei Nishikori keeps accumulating the tennis milestones for Japanese men, always remaining conscious of but not concerned about the expectations being heaped upon him.
Nishikori notched another mark Monday when he became the first Japanese man to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open since the Open Era began in 1968 with an exhausting 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory against former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
"I never feel the pressure," he said. "You know, it's very honor to make a lot of history, to be the No. 1 player in Japan. But that never gives me the pressure."
The 22-year-old Nishikori also matched the best Grand Slam performance ever by a Japanese male in the Open Era -- Shuzo Matsuoka's run to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1995.
He's now got a chance to better Matsuoka's mark when he plays No. 4-ranked Andy Murray on Wednesday. (cbssports.com)
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