For Kei Nishikori, one of the rising stars of men's tennis, the start of the new year could not come quick enough.
The 25-year-old finished 2014 in a blaze of glory, reaching the final of the U.S. Open, the semifinals of the season-ending championships in London and climbing to a career-best ranking of fifth.
His stellar performances last year have boosted his confidence and given him the spur to go on to bigger and better things in 2015.