(Photo credit score: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images)
Kei Nishikori, as soon as ranked as excessive as No. 4 on this planet, will retire from tennis on the finish of the 2026 season.
The 36-year-old Japanese trailblazer made the announcement Thursday by way of social media.
‘Since I used to be a baby, I’ve been keen about tennis and I’ve continued to pursue it with just one dream in my coronary heart: ‘I need to compete on the world stage.’ Reaching the ATP Tour, enjoying on the highest degree of competitors, and sustaining a presence within the Top 10 is one thing I’m extraordinarily pleased with,’ he posted to X. ‘Whether in victory or defeat, the particular environment I felt in packed arenas is irreplaceable.’
Nishikori was the primary Japanese man to be ranked within the high 10 on this planet.
He has received 12 titles, 451 tour matches and simply over $26 million on the ATP Tour.
It was March 2, 2015, when Nishikori was ranked No. 4 amid tennis’ brightest stars. That week, Novak Djokovic was No. 1, adopted by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. After Nishikori, at No. 5, was Andy Murray.
Those 4 opponents mixed to win 69 Grand Slam titles. Nishikori by no means received one, along with his finest end result coming in 2014 when he defeated Djokovic to succeed in the U.S. Open ultimate, which he misplaced to Marin Cilic of Croatia.
Nishikori has competed this season in ATP Challenger occasions. His most up-to-date ATP Tour occasion got here in 2025 at Cincinnati.
‘My love for tennis and my perception that I may develop into a stronger participant all the time introduced me again to the courtroom. I really feel that each one of those experiences have enriched and formed my life. I’m deeply grateful [for] my household and to everybody who has supported me always,’ Nishikori wrote. ‘To be sincere, I nonetheless want I may proceed my enjoying profession. Even so, trying again on every part up so far, I can proudly say that I gave it my all.
‘I’m actually completely satisfied to have walked this path. I’ll cherish each second of the remaining matches and battle to the very finish.’
–Field Level Media