Nishioka shows the way

Yoshihito Nishioka is doing everything in his power to inspire the next generation of Japanese tennis stars.

By flying the flag in Paris and heading into the Roland-Garros second week for the first time, the 27-year-old is leading by example.

'Yoshi' is plotting the path for his up-and-coming compatriots, hosting an Under-16 tournament every year back home in Tokyo, where together with his sponsors, he invites the players to vie for $25,000 worth of prize money.

"It's the third year, in December. I want to give chances to Japanese juniors. We have to travel a lot, everywhere is so far for us. Then you have to spend money, right?" Nishioka told rolandgarros.com.

"Not everyone can do this. If somebody is interested, I want to give them chances."

Shining a light

As well as providing competition, Nishioka films a regular video diary on his YouTube 'Yoshi's Channel,' hoping to draw people into tennis in his homeland.

"I wanted to show to the Japanese tennis fans how we live in the tennis world, what we do at a tournament, how great tennis is, but how tough it is," he explained.

"I want to show the juniors that if you want to be tennis players, you can gain a lot, but you lose a lot too, you have to suffer so much. It's very risky, maybe if you get it, you get a good life. 

"I have to tell them all things honestly. I can tell them all the good things, but they need to know everything on tour, the reality."

Nishioka is also up for a vlog collaboration with WTA star Daria Kasatkina, who also has a pretty polished video series about life on tour.

"Oh yeah? That's cool, I'd love that," said Nishioka. "I want to interview a lot more players. A lot of Japanese players back home want to see this.

"Last year after Washington, I took a video with Nick Kyrgios, he was planning to come to play in Japan, and he had some great words for the Japanese fans. I need to do more interviews and pieces like this."

Inspired by an 'amazing player'

Injury-hit Kei Nishikori, a three-time quarter-finalist at Roland-Garros, is never far from the conversation in Japanese tennis. He's still the leader for Nishioka, despite the 27-year-old's surge up the rankings.

"I'm very proud to have reached this level, to be Japan's No.1, but I know Kei [Nishikori] is coming back. I still believe in him, he's an amazing player," added the Tokyo-based star.

"I got so much experience from him, he's really inspired me, he made top 4, which is amazing. I'm still looking forward to try to be like him. He's still No.1 in my eyes. But I want to play like the No.1."

Nishioka has certainly justified that billing in Paris, overcoming a two-set deficit for the first time in his career against J.J. Wolf in the first round. 

The world No.33 then navigated past Max Purcell in four sets and on Saturday, Nishioka ousted Daniil Medvedev's conqueror Thiago Seyboth Wild in a feisty 3-6, 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 clash.

With a 2-3 clay court record coming in to Roland-Garros, Nishioka has been "surprised" by his career-best showing in Paris.

"After Rome I went back home, I refreshed myself and I didn't think too much," he said. "Just said to myself to enjoy Roland-Garros and see what happens with the results. This mentality has worked so far."

Australian launchpad

Before this season, his best Grand Slam result in 26 events was a third round. In 2023, Nishioka has now earned a fourth-round ticket at both the Australian Open and Roland-Garros.

The 27-year-old was seeded No.31 in Melbourne and that persuaded him he belongs at the top tier of tennis.

"I've managed to avoid really top seeds," said Nishioka. "A bit of luck, but I always face the opponents the same, everyone can be tough. You have to be a fighter.

"After I got seeded, I thought in my mind, I have a chance to make third round, fourth round, maybe more. Before, I was thinking I'm going to get a bad draw. Like last year here, I had to play Novak [Djokovic] in the first round, no-one wants to play Novak in the first round.

"My tennis yes, I think I have the game to go beyond the fourth round. It's more about your mind, how you approach it.

"Of course I want more, but first I can only look at a quarter-final. Last-eight club here or anywhere would be amazing."

Rewind to Roland-Garros 2005 and Nishioka caught the men's final on TV, which helped mould his underrated and crafty game.

"I remember Nadal against Puerta, both lefties. We were watching it on the TV, my father is also a tennis coach and he told me 'look at these guys, they're amazing,'" Nishioka said. 

"His serve [Puerta] wasn't a normal service, my father told me to try it like him and I did. I tried copying both of them."

Maybe it's time to channel Nadal for that elite last-eight spot.