錦織圭、テニス全仏オープン初のベスト8「歴史を作ることはモチベーション」

テニス・全仏オープンは5月31日(現地時間)、パリ・ローランギャロスで男子シングルス4回戦があり、第5シードの錦織圭はテイムラズ・ガバシビリ(ロシア)を6-3、6-4、6-2のストレートで下し、初のベスト8進出を決めた。
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Japan's Kei Nishikori serves in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

テニス・全仏オープンは5月31日(現地時間)、パリ・ローランギャロスで男子シングルス4回戦があり、第5シードの錦織圭はテイムラズ・ガバシビリ(ロシア)を6-3、6-4、6-2のストレートで下し、初のベスト8進出を決めた。

朝日新聞デジタルなどが伝えた。全仏オープンでベスト8に進出した日本人は、男子選手では1933年にベスト4に進んだ佐藤次郎以来、82年ぶりの快挙。

錦織はガバシビリと2015年4月のバルセロナ・オープンでも対戦して勝利を収めていたが、「一定のリズムでバンバン打たれると手に負えなくなる」と気を緩めることなく、序盤から果敢に攻めた。

立ち上がりからエンジンを全開にし、相手の最初のサービスゲームで第2サーブを攻めていきなりブレーク。その後もコースを突く第1サーブを軸に、相手のリズムを狂わせた。体勢が崩れても的確に返す守備力もさえ、断続的に降る雨に動じることもなかった。

時事ドットコム:好調サービスで圧倒=錦織、未体験の領域へ-全仏テニスより 2015/06/01 01:08)

これで錦織がベスト8入りしていない4大大会はウィンブルンドンのみとなった。準々決勝は6月2日の予定。対戦相手は、地元フランスのジョー=ウィルフリード・ツォンガ(世界15位)と決まった。

錦織は「勝ててうれしい。8強に入れてよかった。新しい歴史を作ることは自分のモチベーションになる。まだまだこれからです」と快挙を謙虚に振り返った。

錦織「新しい歴史モチベに」日本男子82年ぶり8強 - テニス : 日刊スポーツより 2015/06/01 02:01)

錦織圭、全仏オープンベスト8(2015)
France Tennis French Open(01 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori reacts after defeating Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Paris. Nishikori won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(02 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori , right, shakes hands with Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili after their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Paris. Nishikori won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(03 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Paris. Nishikori won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(04 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori celebrates winning his the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili in three sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX France Tennis French Open(05 of26)
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Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili screams as he misses a return and subsequently gets hit by the ball in his fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Japan\'s Kei Nishikori at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(06 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(07 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori celebrates winning his the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili in three sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(08 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori reacts after defeating Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Paris. Nishikori won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(09 of26)
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Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Japan\'s Kei Nishikori at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(10 of26)
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Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili closes his eyes after missing a return in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Japan\'s Kei Nishikori at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(11 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(12 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(13 of26)
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A spectator struggles with his umbrella as Japan\'s Kei Nishikori plays the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(14 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori wipes his face in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(15 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori clenches his fist after scoring a point in his fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(16 of26)
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Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Japan\'s Kei Nishikori at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(17 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(18 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(19 of26)
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Japanese tennis lovers display their national flag as Japan\'s Kei Nishikori plays Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(20 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(21 of26)
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Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Japan\'s Kei Nishikori at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(22 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(23 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(24 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(25 of26)
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Japan\'s Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Tennis French Open(26 of26)
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Russia\'s Teymuraz Gabashvili serves in the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Japan\'s Kei Nishikori at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)