Nishikori hires Chang, strong tournment line ups ahead and Djokovic Opens up

World number 17 Kai Nishikori has announced today on Facebook that former French Open champion Michael Chang will join his coaching team in the role as a advisory coach. He posted the following statement on his official facebook account:-
Excited to announce an addition to the team. Michael Chang will join us in 2014. Dante will remain the full time coach. We have already spent the last 2 weeks working hard and are getting ready for 2014 

 

If all goes according to plan the Australian Open will have one of the strongest fields in history with 99 out of the top 100 men confirmed (Trocki suspended) and 98 the top 100 women.

Six of the top 10 are now confirmed for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship Exhibition which begins 26th December. They blockbuster line up includes Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Ferrer, Tsonga and Wawrinka. Lucky attendees on the second day will see ALL of the players in action due a new fifth/sixth play off match introduced this year.

In an interview with Argentinian media that for once didn't focus on the court Novak Djokovic said that tennis has saved his life. Whilst talking about the Yugoslavian war   He said:-

"The war had an impact on my approach to professional tennis and also to dedicate more to the sport. War is something I would not wish anyone's destruction, is lost families, lost loved ones and the attacked country takes many years recover. then one feels the consequences of them. But the positives of the war, if it can be something, is that many people come together to find the pure strength to overcome anything that has challenged. everyone loses in war , is the worst, is devastation.'s why, again, the court was a blessing in my life”

During the interview he also said that growing up his idol was Pete Sampras and that he loved watching him play against Agassi. With reference to development of the tour Djokovic said that it is a lot more physically demanding to win compared to 20 years ago but it is difficult to asses weather or not the best tennis of all time is being played right now. The full interview can be read here.