Japan's Kei Nishikori has broken into the top four of the ATP world rankings as the Asian trailblazer continued to shake up the top echelon of men's tennis.
The Japan tennis player Kei Nishikori. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
His run to the final in Acapulco, where he was beaten by Spain's David Ferrer, elevated him to a new career-high ranking of four, taking him above Britain's Andy Murray.
Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Murray have long been regarded as the "big four" in the men's game.
Nishikori, who became the first Asian male to reach a grand slam singles final at the U.S. Open last year, has equalled the highest ranking for a Japanese player, matching the feat of Kimiko Date-Krumm in the women's list 20 years ago.
25-year-old Nishikori says what's important is where you are at the end of the year.
He says he hopes he can produce some big results.
Nishikori will be in action for Japan later this week in a Davis Cup World Group first-round clash against Canada in Vancouver.
