The final day of Kei Nishikori’s professional career was a harder one than he could have anticipated. Playing his farewell match at the Japan Open in front of a packed Ariake Coliseum, the 36-year-old lost to world No. 8 Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-4 in the first round, closing the book on nearly two decades on tour. Speaking afterward, Nishikori admitted the emotion of the occasion caught him off guard.

“Before the match I didn’t expect I would cry, but at the moment the match ended, I was overwhelmed by a sense of loss,” he said. “I’m still frustrated with the way I end my career, at the same time I feel I gave it all. I’m so competitive that I still feel it’s not enough, though.” It was a fitting final line from a player whose career was defined as much by that relentless competitiveness as by the results it produced.

The Japanese star ensured he gave his all on the court before departing. Playing on a wildcard, Nishikori rolled back the years, hitting six aces to Tiafoe’s two, and won 50 points to 56, a far closer game than the straight-sets score indicated. 

Tiafoe proved crucial in the end, converting three out of seven break points, while the 36-year-old managed only one, which was enough to close out the match. 

The crowd gave a standing ovation as soon as the last point was over, and Nishikori, no doubt in tears, waved goodbye to a sport that had been a major part of his life. The on-court ceremony that followed was deeply personal, as he shared a tearful embrace with his wife, who was crying along with him, followed by hugs with family members and the long-time trainers and staff who have supported him throughout his career.

A decade of fighting through injuries before the final curtain

Kei Nishikori reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in 2015, and by the fall of 2019 he had fallen out of the top 10 altogether, the start of a run that was defined more by injuries than trophies. 

He was sidelined for ten months following elbow surgery in 2019, as well as missing the 2020 US Open due to a positive COVID test, and a shoulder injury sustained in a five-set defeat at the French Open in 2020 against Stefano Travaglia, which shortened his season. His lowest point came in January 2022, when he underwent hip surgery, which dropped him outside the world’s top 700. 

He tried to make one final comeback at the beginning of June 2023, but he was unable to return to the level of quality he used to possess. Therefore, he spent much of his last seasons grinding at the Challenger-level events.  

Reflecting on the toll earlier this year, Nishikori said the decision to retire crystallized after a tournament last August, when the fatigue finally outweighed the fight. “I felt like my feet were heavy when I went to train,” he said.

Nishikori leaves the sport as the most accomplished Japanese men’s tennis player in history, with a runner-up finish at the 2014 US Open and twelve ATP Tour titles among his achievements. He decided to end that chapter at home, where he has won two titles in 2012 and 2014, in front of his most loyal fans throughout his journey.