Kei Nishikori retires from professional tennis after Tokyo Japan Open defeat

Final match in Tokyo

Kei Nishikori ended his professional tennis career on 1 October 2026 following a first-round loss at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. The 36-year-old native of Matsue was defeated 4-6, 4-6 on the center court of the Ariake Coliseum by second-seeded American Frances Tiafoe. Nishikori entered the hard-court ATP 500 tournament on a wild card provided by the organizers, fulfilling a plan he had announced in May to close his career in front of his home fans. Before the tournament, Nishikori noted that he felt excitement about playing in Japan alongside sadness over making his final competitive appearance. Tiafoe moves on to face Arthur Fils of France, who defeated his compatriot Luca Van Assche in the opening round. The Tokyo tournament runs through Tuesday, 6 October 2026, offering a total prize fund of $2.342 million, with $437,900 and 500 ATP points reserved for the singles champion.

Career milestones and Grand Slam success

Nishikori began his professional career in 2007 and went on to capture 12 ATP Tour singles titles, including two victories at the Japan Open in 2012 and 2014. In 2014, he reached the final of the US Open, where he was defeated 3-6, 3-6, 3-6 by Marin Cilic of Croatia. He remains the only Japanese player to contest a Grand Slam men's singles final. Nishikori achieved his career-high ATP ranking of world No. 4 in March 2015, standing as the highest-ranked Asian male singles player in Open Era history. Across his peak years, he also reached multiple quarterfinals at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Nishikori earned a bronze medal by defeating Spain's Rafael Nadal, securing Japan's first Olympic tennis medal in 96 years after a semifinal loss to Andy Murray.

Injury struggles and final seasons

Frequent injuries and recurring physical difficulties hampered Nishikori throughout the later stages of his career, leading to extended tournament absences and causing his ATP ranking to slip to world No. 436. Despite those setbacks, he repeatedly launched comebacks on the professional circuit. In early 2025, he advanced to the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Hong Kong before deciding that 2026 would be his concluding season. His farewell at the Japan Open marked the end of a 19-year tenure on the professional tour. The Tokyo competition continues this week, where Spain's Carlos Alcaraz is participating as the defending champion from the 2025 edition.

Tributes from the tennis community

Following the conclusion of the match at Ariake Coliseum, tournament organizers broadcast a dedicated tribute video on court featuring prominent figures across the sport. Novak Djokovic expressed admiration for Nishikori's perseverance and competitive fighting spirit, while Carlos Alcaraz shared that he had long been a fan of the Japanese star. Andy Murray praised Nishikori's two-handed backhand, with additional tributes coming from Grigor Dimitrov and Alex De Minaur. Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece posted a message on social media, stating that he would miss Nishikori's distinct playing style and describing how his career had inspired emotion and pride among Japanese supporters. The International Olympic Committee shared best wishes for his post-tennis life, and the ATP published a direct acknowledgment of his legacy on its official channels.

There is only one Kei Nishikori.