Kei Nishikori’s Grand Slam career has come to an end at the very tournament that made his name, the 2014 US Open finalist eliminated in the final round of qualifying by fellow Japanese player Rei Sakamoto, 6-4, 7-6, just one win short of a main-draw return.

Nishikori, who had received a wildcard into qualifying after failing to secure one for the main draw, battled through his first two rounds, beating 16th seed Sebastian Ofner in three sets and 16-year-old American Michael Antonius 6-4, 6-4, before falling to his 20-year-old compatriot. Speaking afterwards, the 36-year-old reflected on the week with more pride than disappointment. 

“I’m grateful that I had the chance to play this week. Played three great matches. Not happy to lose, but it’s nice for Rei, who is the next Japanese superstar. I hope he can make the top 10 soon,” he said.

Sakamoto, who idolised Nishikori growing up, was visibly emotional about facing and beating him. 

“I watched him reach the final here. I was still 8 years old. He is my idol. Most of the people follow tennis in Japan because of him. He is a superstar,” he said.

Nishikori, the five-setter machine, did not just reach the finals in 2014 but even the semi-finals in 2016 and 2018. His reputation for grinding out the longest matches on tour is backed up by the numbers: a career five-set record of 29-8, the second-best winning percentage in tennis history behind only Bjorn Borg. That knack for the marathon was never more visible than at the very tournament he just bid farewell to, where his run to the 2014 final included a five-set fourth-round win over Milos Raonic that finished at 2:26 am, equaling the latest finish in US Open history at the time. 

He had announced earlier this year that 2026 would be his last season, marking his final Grand Slam appearance and closing out a 14th trip to Flushing Meadows.

His accomplishments went beyond the game itself. Roger Federer, who practised with Nishikori as a teenager in Miami, spoke warmly of him just this week ahead of his own Hall of Fame induction. 

“I remember practicing with him, particularly in Miami, when he was like 16 or even 15. I see him grow. I thought he had a wonderful game, obviously a super respectful person as well. It’s sad seeing the likes of Nishikori and Wawrinka and others go,” Federer said.

Kei Nishikori was set to receive a send-off with an additional layer of sentiment before the scheduling got in the way.

A farewell that almost included a blockbuster pairing with Naomi Osaka

Kei Nishikori had been confirmed to play mixed doubles at this year’s US Open alongside compatriot Naomi Osaka, an all-Japanese pairing that would have marked their first appearance as a doubles team. 

When asked about balancing the doubles event with his own qualifying run, the Japanese waved away any worries with his usual sense of humor.

“I’m not worried about schedule conflict between USO mixed doubles and qualifying at all. I’m rather thinking about what to dress. If Naomi appears in awesome clothes, I should match my outfit with hers. It’s the only thing I’m worried, rather than schedule,” he said. 

The pairing ultimately fell through regardless, with the duo withdrawn due to a scheduling conflict on Osaka’s side. The Former world No. 4 made deep runs at the Citi Open and Toronto, reaching semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively. After that, she even withdrew from Cincinnati due to fatigue and then the mixed doubles event. 

That left Nishikori’s qualifying run as his sole focus in what turned out to be a fittingly full-circle farewell. He competed in US Open qualifying rounds after 19 years. The last time he participated was back in 2007, when he was just 17 years old and made his debut at a Grand Slam stage. Nishikori won his first match but fell in the second round, but after that he has never been required to play the qualification round again until now. 

The former world No. 4 has decided to end his professional career at his home tournament, an ATP 500 event in Japan, running from September 30 to October 6. Nearly two decades later, Nishikori will pull the curtains on his illustrious career in front of his home crowd.