Nishikori vows to end Wimbledon woe

LONDON — Japan’s Kei Nishikori has set his sights on finally making a strong run at Wimbledon despite admitting he is less than 100 percent fit. Nishikori was forced to withdraw from the Wimbledon warm-up event in Halle before his second round match last week due to an injury to his oblique muscles. The world No. 6 eased fears he might miss Wimbledon when he came through a two-set win against Richard Gasquet in an exhibition match Thursday. Nishikori concedes he is still short of full fitness, but the 2014 US Open runner-up believes he is close enough to be able to do himself justice when he faces big-serving Australian Sam Groth in the Wimbledon first round next week. “I’m feeling good. I’ve had almost one week after I got injured, so I should be fine,” Nishikori told reporters at Wimbledon Saturday. “I’ve been practicing really well these couple days. Two days ago I just played Gasquet two sets, so I should be okay for Monday. “I’m close to 100 percent. I mean, not 100 percent yet. But I start Monday, so I have one more day.” Nishikori is determined to make it to at least the quarterfinals at the All England Club this year after enduring some miserable experiences at the grass-court Grand Slam. The 26-year-old was forced to pull out of Wimbledon in the second round last year due to a leg injury and it is the only Grand Slam where he has failed to reach the quarterfinals. Nishikori remains uncomfortable playing on grass, but his respect for the history and tradition of the tournament is fueling his bid to improve on a wretched record of one last 16 appearance in seven attempts. World No. 775 qualifies Britain’s world No. 775 Marcus Willis booked a place in the Wimbledon main draw for the first time Friday after playing six matches in a gruelling qualifying competition. The 25-year-old — his country’s 23rd best player — had to get through three ties in pre-qualifying before reaching the main qualifiers at Roehampton this week. There he beat Japan’s Yuichi Sugita, former French Open junior champion Andrey Rublev of Russia before clinching a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Daniil Medvedev Friday. The left-hander, who had been coaching in Tunisia in the build-up to Wimbledon, has never played a tour-level match and is now guaranteed to pocket at least £30,000 (36,000 euros) in prize money. — AFP