TOKYO (Kyodo) -- At 170 centimeters, Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka, one of the shortest players among the top 100 players on the ATP Tour, has learned that the key to his survival in today's power tennis is relentless innovation.

The 59th-ranked left-hander said Saturday after his Japan Open second-round loss to Denmark's Holger Rune that simply outrunning opponents and keeping the ball in play is not enough.

The 188-cm Rune gave Nishioka almost no chance, getting in 79 percent of his first serves, firing 11 aces and committing only 10 unforced errors in a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

"When a big server like him lands 80 percent of first serves, there is little chance of grabbing a break. I didn't play poorly. He just played really well," Nishioka said.

Rune, whose height is about average on the ATP tour, has risen as high as world No. 4 during his young career.

"I'm aware I have to endure some tough times, but I won't let my chances slip away," Nishioka added. "With this small body, I can't afford to say things have to be this way or that way. Now I'm 29. It's getting harder to win matches if I just stay patient and grind out points after long rallies."

"I've already changed how my racket is strung and how I grip it in just a short period of time -- two things I hadn't changed for many years. But I still have some other things to work on."

It usually takes courage to make even one major change in a sport where most professionals' style of play does not vary significantly over the years.

Nishioka, a three-time tournament winner on the top-tier tour with the last one coming in July this year at the Atlanta Open, said he is considering switching to what is called a longbody racket.

He does not have to look far for examples of what awaits players like him who fail to find that next new edge.

Argentina's Diego Schwartzman, who also stands 170 cm, reached a career-high eighth in October 2020 but is now 221st in the world.

Earlier at the Japan Open, Nishioka won a 3-hour, 12-minute first-round match against Canada's 193-centimeter Felix Auger-Aliassime, but knows his height disadvantage will continue to be a driving force for his evolution as a player.

"It's impossible for me to overpower these big guys, so I'm open to all kinds of changes," he said.

By Hiroki Noda

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World's top 5 players (Name, Age as of Sept. 29, 2024, Country, Height, as shown on ATP Tour official website)

1. Jannik Sinner, 23, Italy, 191cm(6'3")

2. Alexander Zverev, 27, Germany, 198cm(6'6")

3. Carlos Alcaraz, 21, Spain, 183cm(6'0")

4. Novak Djokovic, 37, Serbia, 188cm(6'2")

5. Daniil Medvedev, 28, Russia, 198cm(6'6")

Japanese players

59. Yoshihito Nishioka, 29, 170cm(5'7")

91. Taro Daniel, 31, 191cm(6'3")

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200. Kei Nishikori, 34, 178cm(5'10")