Kei Nishikori has retired from professional tennis after a 6-4, 6-4 defeat by Frances Tiafoe in the first round of the Japan Open in Tokyo, ending a 19-year career in front of his home crowd.
The 36-year-old Japanese player, once ranked world No 4, was beaten in 74 minutes by Tiafoe, the world No 8 and second seed. It was Nishikori’s final tour-level match and brought an emotional farewell at the Ariake Colosseum, where he had won the Tokyo title in 2012 and 2014.
After the match, Nishikori completed a lap of honour on the main court. BBC Tennis reported that he told spectators he was pleased that he had continued fighting until the end, despite wishing he had produced a more convincing performance.
The occasion reflected the scale of Nishikori’s standing in Japanese men’s tennis. Tennis TourTalk described him as Japan’s most successful male player and reported that the crowd applauded throughout his final appearance. A video message featuring Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Michael Chang was played after the match.
Djokovic said in his recorded tribute that Nishikori’s resilience and repeated returns from adversity were admirable, while also recognising that he was finishing his career in his own country. Tiafoe, meanwhile, said he had looked up to Nishikori and learned how to hit backhands because of him.
A US Open breakthrough in 2014
Nishikori’s defining Grand Slam run came at the 2014 US Open, where he became the first Japanese man to reach a major singles final. He beat Djokovic, then the world No 1, in the semi-finals before losing to Marin Cilic in the title match.
That run took Nishikori to his career-best ranking of world No 4, according to Tennis TourTalk. It established him as the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
His record went beyond that single fortnight in New York. Nishikori won 12 ATP Tour singles titles and recorded 40 victories over top-10 opponents, BBC Tennis reported. He was also the first Japanese man to enter the world’s top 10.
At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Nishikori won bronze. The bronze medal was another landmark in a career that included victories over leading opponents.
For Japanese tennis, those results included the first Grand Slam singles final by a Japanese man and the country’s first male top-10 player. He reached a Grand Slam final, peaked at world No 4 and won titles in Tokyo twice. Tennis TourTalk said his career had had a significant impact particularly in Asia, while BBC Tennis reported that he inspired players including Naomi Osaka.
Injuries shaped the final years
Nishikori’s career was repeatedly affected by injuries, particularly in its latter stages. BBC Tennis said physical problems had hampered him throughout his 19 years as a professional, while Tennis TourTalk reported that he had spent much of his final season competing on the ATP Challenger Tour.
He had played only his second tour-level main draw of the year in Tokyo, following Washington in July, according to Tennis TourTalk. The specialist outlet reported that he entered the Japan Open on a wildcard after previously announcing on social media in April that 2026 would be his final season.
That context made the draw against Tiafoe a difficult final assignment. Nishikori was ranked 436th and was seeking his first top-10 victory since beating Andrey Rublev, then ranked seventh, at the 2020 Olympics, Tennis TourTalk reported. He could not find the breakthrough against Tiafoe, but the farewell was not defined solely by the score.
Nishikori’s final match was an emotional home farewell, with a video tribute and a lap of honour after the match.
The ceremony therefore brought together the principal markers of a career that had carried unusual importance for Japanese men’s tennis. Nishikori’s Tokyo titles, US Open run and Olympic medal provided the factual foundation for the esteem shown by former rivals and fellow players. His final appearance also underlined the persistence noted in Djokovic’s tribute: although injuries had disrupted his later years, Nishikori completed his career at the event where he had twice lifted the trophy.