Japan’s Kei Nishikori Confirms Retirement, Ending 19-Year Pro Career
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| Kei Nishikori to retire from tennis at end of season |
Nishikori said he was “barely hanging on” physically. He’s currently ranked No. 464 and playing on the Challenger Tour this season.
The 2014 US Open runner-up turned pro in 2007 and famously upset Novak Djokovic to reach his lone Grand Slam final...
Japan’s most decorated men’s tennis player Kei Nishikori announced Friday that he will retire at the end of the season, closing a career hit hard by injuries.
The 36-year-old became the first Japanese player to reach a Grand Slam final at the 2014 US Open, where he lost to Croatia’s Marin Cilic.
He was the first Japanese man to break into the ATP top 10, peaking at world No. 4, and won 12 tour titles.
Nishikori also took bronze in men’s singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He has struggled with injuries for years and said last month that he was “barely hanging on” with his fitness.
Nishikori said on social media Friday that he was reluctantly retiring at the end of the 2026 season.
“To be honest, I still wish I could continue my playing career,” he said.
“Even so, looking back on everything up to this point, I can proudly say that I gave it my all.”
Nishikori was born in western Japan and moved to Florida at 14 to train at the IMG Academy.
He turned pro in 2007 and claimed his first ATP Tour title a year later at Delray Beach.
His best season came in 2014, when he won four ATP titles and reached the US Open final after upsetting then-world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
“Reaching the ATP Tour, playing at the highest level of competition and maintaining a presence in the top 10 is something I am extremely proud of,” he said in his social media post.
“Whether in victory or defeat, the special atmosphere I felt in packed arenas is irreplaceable.”
— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) April 30, 2026
Nishikori’s last title came at Brisbane in 2019. He’s currently ranked world No. 464 and has been competing on the second-tier Challenger Tour this season.
“There were also times when I was overwhelmed by frustration and anxiety due to repeated injuries that prevented me from playing as I wanted,” he said.
“Even so, my love for tennis and my belief that I could become a stronger player always brought me back to the court,” he added.
“I will cherish every moment of the remaining matches and fight to the very end.”
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