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"A year that I won most matches does carry some significance
but what is important is how much I can win at big tournaments,"
the 2014 U.S. Open runner-up was quoted as saying by Kyodo news
agency.
"Result-wise this has been my best year. I've played well
against the top-10 players and have been winning against the
likes of (Rafa) Nadal and (Andy) Murray, who I couldn't beat
before.
"I'm making fewer mistakes as I get older. I hope to keep
building, bit-by-bit."
Nishikori started the campaign by reaching the quarter-finals of
the Australian Open and followed that up by winning his only
title of the year at the Memphis Open.
His form faltered slightly with fourth round defeats at the
French Open and Wimbledon, before he rediscovered his touch to
win bronze at the Rio Olympics and reached the semi-finals of
the U.S. Open, losing to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka.
Nishikori was also a losing finalist at the Miami Open in April
and Rogers Cup in July before his season ended with a defeat to
Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals
in London on Saturday.
The 26-year-old remains hopeful he can climb up to number three
in the world rankings, one better than his career-high.
"I'm confident I have the ability to challenge for world number
three and four," he added.
"I need to be more cautious while determining which points in
the match I have to focus and how I can win break points in a
more assured manner."
(Reporting by Debanjan Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by John
O'Brien)
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