Ambitious Nishikori ready to take on the game's best

SHANGHAI - Try to imagine how hard it is to leave your parents at the age of 13 to pursue your dream in an unknown country.

That's exactly what Japan's Kei Nishikori (pictured) did as he moved closer to his tennis dream at the Shanghai Masters last week.

Underdog Nishikori stormed into a maiden ATP 1000 semifinal berth in the east China city and became the first Asian to advance that far since Thai Paradorn Srichaphan at Indian Wells in 2006.