Nishikori's Grand Slam Final and Olympic Success Define Tennis Legacy
Nishikori pioneered Japanese tennis success with a US Open final, top-4 ranking, Olympic medal, and 12 ATP titles.
Event / Sports
Kei Nishikori Retirement
Kei Nishikori, Japan's former ATP world number 4 and 2014 US Open finalist, announced his retirement from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season. The 36-year-old cited injuries sustained throughout his career, including two right elbow surgeries and hip surgery, as preventing him from sustaining peak performance despite winning 12 ATP titles and an Olympic bronze medal.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 May, 12:08 UTC
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What happened
Nishikori accumulated 12 ATP titles during his professional career
Throughout his professional tennis career, Kei Nishikori won 12 titles on the main ATP circuit. His last ATP title came at Brisbane in 2019, marking the end of his title-winning period.
Nishikori currently ranked 464th in ATP standings and competes on Challenger circuit
As of late April 2026, Kei Nishikori is ranked 464th in the ATP world rankings and competes on the Challenger circuit, the second-tier professional tennis tour. This reflects his decline from his peak ranking of number 4.
Nishikori reached US Open final in 2014 as first Japanese Grand Slam finalist
Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese player to reach a Grand Slam final when he reached the US Open final in 2014, where he lost to Marin Cilic. This was a historic achievement for Japanese tennis.
Nishikori achieved career-high ATP ranking of number 4 in March 2015
Kei Nishikori reached a career-high ATP ranking of number 4 in March 2015, becoming the first Japanese player to achieve a top 10 ranking. He maintained his position in the top 10 for several years during his peak competitive period.
Nishikori underwent multiple surgeries due to injury complications
Nishikori underwent surgery on his right elbow twice (in 2009 and 2019) and hip surgery in 2022. These injuries significantly hampered his ability to compete at the highest level in recent years and contributed to his decision to retire.
Kei Nishikori announces retirement from professional tennis at end of 2026 season
Kei Nishikori, Japan's greatest tennis player, announced on April 30, 2026 that he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season. The 36-year-old made the announcement on social media, stating that while he wished to continue his career, he can proudly say he gave his all to the sport.
Nishikori won Olympic bronze medal at Rio 2016
Kei Nishikori won the bronze medal in tennis at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, adding to his career achievements on the international stage.
Nishikori participated in four ATP year-end Masters tournaments
Kei Nishikori qualified for the ATP Masters year-end tournament on four occasions (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018), reaching the semifinals twice during his peak competitive years.
Nishikori's 2014 season included four titles and victory over world number 1 Djokovic
In 2014, Kei Nishikori's best professional season, he won four titles and reached the US Open final. In the semifinals, he defeated Novak Djokovic, who was the world number 1 at the time, demonstrating his peak competitive form.
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Nishikori to retire from professional tennis at end of 2026
Nishikori announces retirement from professional tennis at end of 2026 season.