World No. 7 Kei Nishikori has set his eyes upon dealing with bigger challenges after managing a podium finish at the Rio Olympic Games recently.

The Japanese superstar upset Spain’s 2008 champion Rafael Nadal in the bronze-medal playoff to bring home country’s maiden Olympic medal from tennis.

However, Nishikori insists that this is just the start of a new beginning. “My tennis is much more consistent and also more aggressive. I try to come in a little more now,” he told the ATP website.

Even as the 26-year-old has established himself as one of the best tennis players in the era dominated by ‘Fab Four’, he has invariably struggled against the likes of World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 2 Andy Murray. This is evident from his dismal records of 2-10 and 1-7 against Djokovic and Murray respectively.

That said, Nishikori seems more than keen on closing out on the gap with the top guys as he eyes a steady resurgence to the top.

“I lost to Andy a little bit easily in the Olympics and also lost to Djokovic in two sets in Toronto, so I still have many things to work on to beat those two guys. But slowly, I think I’m getting there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nishikori is currently competing at the Cincinnati Masters, where he has been scheduled to square-off against Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in his opener.