Japan’s Kei Nishikori believes his rise into the world top five would never have happened had he not forged his skills in America’s do-or-die sports environment. Nishikori left his home and family in Shimane when he was just 14 with no English skills, just a passionate belief that he could become Japan’s most successful tennis player. A decade later, he was the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final, losing to Marin Cilic in the US Open title match having knocked out Novak Djokovic on the way.