Nishikori on Djokovic: 'I'm ready to beat him again'

MELBOURNE—Kei Nishikori, who has reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, is ready for the opportunity to upset No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic.

“I'm ready to beat him again,” said the seventh-seeded Nishikori, who stunned Djokovic in the semifinals at the 2014 U.S. Open.

Since that match, the Serbian has beaten the Japanese player four times: at the 2014 BNP Paribas Masters, the 2014 ATP World Tour Finals, the 2015 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and the 2015 ATP World Tour Finals.

“That gives me a lot of confidence to play against him again,” Nishikori said. “But we played in London and he kind of destroy[ed] me. It wasn't [an] easy match for me. It's different condition, but I hope I can make some changes and try to play better.”

In 2015, the 28-year-old Djokovic won three Grand Slams (Australian Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open). He lost to Stan Wawrinka in the final of the French Open.

Djokovic took home 11 titles last season, and he won in Doha to kick off 2016, crushing Rafael Nadal, 6-1, 6-2, in the final.

Nishikori said that it is very hard to break him.

“I think the biggest thing is he doesn't miss,” Nishikori said. “He doesn't give you easy points, any free points. I have to be the one to dictate. I think he's serving well, too. It always makes [a] tough player.”