New Delhi, May 1: Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori has announced his retirement from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season. Nishikori has been the highest-ranked player in Japanese tennis history and was the first Japanese player to break into the world’s top 10.
In a post shared on social media, Nishikori stated, “I am making an announcement. I have decided to retire from professional tennis at the end of this season.”
He continued, “Since childhood, I have had a passion for tennis, and I have pursued it with one dream in my heart: to compete on the world stage. Reaching the ATP Tour, playing at the highest level of competition, and maintaining my presence in the top 10 are achievements I take great pride in. Whether in victory or defeat, the unique atmosphere I felt in packed arenas is irreplaceable.”
Nishikori expressed, “My love for tennis and my belief that I could become a strong player always brought me back to the court. I believe all these experiences have enriched my life and shaped who I am. I am very grateful to my family and everyone who has supported me throughout. Honestly, I still wish I could continue my playing career. However, looking back at everything, I can proudly say that I gave it my all. I am truly happy to have walked this path. I will cherish every moment of my remaining matches and fight until the end.”
At 36 years old, Nishikori has won 12 ATP Tour titles, including two at home in Tokyo in 2012 and 2014. The winner of 451 tour-level matches has also participated in the Nitto ATP Finals four times (2014-16, 2018), reaching the semifinals twice (2014 and 2016).
According to the ATP win/loss index, 2014 was Nishikori’s best year, where he won four tour-level titles and achieved a record of 54-14. That season, the Japanese star reached the US Open final after defeating then-world number one Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
As reported by the ATP, Nishikori also reached the final four of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, where he defeated Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.
Recently, Nishikori participated in a tour-level event at the Cincinnati Open last year and played in an ATP Challenger event in Savannah, Georgia, last week.
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