[August 23, 2014](Reuters) - U.S. Open 10th seed Kei
Nishikori remains concerned over his fitness following a three-week
injury break with the Japanese number one raising doubts about his
prospects of making it past the first round in New York.
The world number 11 skipped warm-up tournaments in Toronto and
Cincinnati after having a cyst removed from his right toe earlier
this month and has just resumed training ahead of the final grand
slam of the season starting next week.
"I had doubts about my decision (to play at the U.S. Open) but I am
going to take a chance," the Kyodo news agency quoted Nishikori as
telling reporters in New York on Friday.
"However, to be honest I have some concerns about my physical
fitness."
The injury-prone 24-year-old, the first Japanese to break into the
top 10 of the men's singles rankings, lost to Briton Daniel Evans in
the first round of the U.S. Open last year.
This year he will play 180th-ranked American Wayne Odesnik in the
opening round.
"I haven't had match practice and I don't know if I will be able to
keep up when it comes to quick movement," Nishikori added. "If the
pain comes back on the day of the game I don't know if I will play.
"I don't know if I will be able to get through the first round."
Nishikori's best performance at Flushing Meadows came in 2008 when he
reached the fourth round as an 18-year-old.
Despite doubts over Nishikori, Japan will be well represented in the
men's draw after Taro Daniel, Yoshihito Nishioka and Tatsuma Ito came
through their third-round qualifiers on Friday.
The 21-year-old American-born Daniel and 18-year-old Nishioka, ranked
246 in the world, qualified for the main draw of a grand slam for the
first time.
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by John O'Brien)
