Kei Nishikori loses to Klizan at French Open 2014 first round

Ninth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan crashed out of the French Open 2014 first round after losing to 59th-ranked Martin Klizan 7-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Monday.

Nishikori revealed before the tournament in Paris that he’s not yet a hundred percent physically fit after injuring his hip in the Madrid Masters final two weeks ago.

“I’m actually happy to finish the match,” Nishikori said. “I was really disappointed that my performance was — I mean, not very bad, but it wasn’t a perfect match for me. And I didn’t have much practice. So I knew this is going to be happen.”

It was a disappointing conclusion for the claycourt season stretch for Nishikori after posting impressive results in the past month. He won his first claycourt title at the ATP 500 Barcelona Open and reached the Madrid Masters final (losing to Rafael Nadal). He made his way in the world’s top 10 for the first time due to these results.

“It really sucks, I have to say, a lot of injuries, and especially in Madrid I was winning first set, and I have to kind of let go the match” he said. “So it’s tough for me, but I guess this is my tennis life. I have to take care of my body and injury will come again, for sure.”

Nishikori will be taking a much needed break to recuperate before Wimbledon Championships begin on June 23.