“I’m Getting Closer to Retirement” – Kei Nishikori

The Japanese tennis ace, Kei Nishikori called off his tennis season 2019 in the month of October and now he is skeptical about his appearance at Australian Open 2020. Also, he anticipates that he will soon hit the sack. Despite his determination to excel on the professional tour, the year 2020 might be Nishikori’s farewell season.

“The prospect of a return from surgery on right elbow in January. Maybe in February. In the second half of next year, I want to be able to play well.” Kei Nishikori told Nikkan Sports. “I don’t want to overdo it.”

World Number 13, Nishikori is contemplating to do well on the Japanese hard-courts during Olympic Games and endeavoring to emulate his Rio Olympics glory in Tokyo. In 2016, Kei Nishikori won a bronze medal for Japan. “I’m getting closer to retirement. I want to be cured and come back to play good tennis in the second half of next year,” he added.

The 29-year-old, Kei Nishikori has started having some thoughts about his retirement from professional tennis. He is striving to do well in the second half of the year as the Olympics Games will take place on his home turf.

He underwent right elbow surgery in October this year and thus missed his most favorite part of the year which is the Asian Swing. Presently, he feels his elbow might delay his return to the ATP Tour in 2020.

Recently, Nishikori joined forces with the former doubles specialist, Max Mirnyi. In the month of October, the Japanese parted ways with his longtime coach Dante Bottini.

Kei Nishikori Announces Split With Longtime Coach Dante Bottini

The US Open 2014 finalist, Nishikori was the quarterfinalist in the first three Slams of the year. He played a five-set thriller against France’s Benoit Paire at Roland Garros 2019. 

Later at US Open 2019, he lost to Alex De Minaur in the third round. He was scheduled to play the charity match against Roger Federer in Tokyo, Japan on October 14, 2019, but pertaining to his elbow issues Japan’s Number One tennis player had to miss it.