TOKYO — Kei Nishikori called time on his professional tennis career on Thursday after a 6-4, 6-4 loss to US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe in the Japan Open first round in Tokyo, closing the circle on a Tokyo story that began almost 19 years earlier as a 17-year-old wildcard.
Nishikori made his Japan Open debut in 2007 after receiving a wildcard, drawn against American Zach Fleishman. Fleishman, the world No. 127, had achieved one of his best results that season by defeating world No. 6 Fernando Gonzalez at the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles. He proved too strong for Nishikori, triumphing 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 before being knocked out in the next round by French youngster Richard Gasquet, who retired from his playing career in 2025.
Nishikori returned a year later and secured his first victories in Tokyo, defeating Robert Kendrick and Guillermo Garcia Lopez as an 18-year-old before losing to Gasquet in the quarter-finals. Four years later he broke through at home, winning the Japan Open in 2012 and again in 2014 — both times defeating future Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic in the final, 7-6, 3-6, 6-0 in 2012 and 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 in 2014.
The 2012 title run saw Nishikori defeat Go Soeda, Tommy Robredo, Tomas Berdych and Marcos Baghdatis to reach the final. “It’s absolutely unbelievable to win in Japan,” Nishikori said afterwards, as per Sky Sports. “To win an ATP 500 event will give me more confidence in the future. I’d never played well in Japan but since beating (second seed) Tomas Berdych (in the quarter-finals), I felt I’d broken that wall down. To reach the top 10 is my target now.”
With those two titles Nishikori became one of only four players to win multiple Japan Open crowns, joining Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Stefan Edberg, the tournament’s most successful player with four titles. He also reached the final in 2018 before losing to Daniil Medvedev in straight sets. Nishikori had made his ATP Tour debut at the 2007 Countrywide Classic, losing to South African Wesley Moodie in the first round, before securing his first ATP victories en route to the quarter-finals at the 2007 Indianapolis Tennis Classic.