Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori announced on 1 May that he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season. The 36-year-old has been Japan's most successful male player in the Open Era, reaching as high as World No. 4 in the ATP Rankings and becoming the first Japanese man to break into the global Top 10.

Career highlights and milestones

Nishikori owns 12 ATP Tour titles, including back-to-back wins on home soil in Tokyo in 2012 and 2014. He has compiled 451 tour-level match victories and reached the Nitto ATP Finals four times (2014–16, 2018), advancing to the semi-finals twice. His career-best season came in 2014, when he posted a 54–14 record and won four tour-level titles.

The 2014 breakthrough: US Open final and landmark wins

That same year, Nishikori reached the US Open final, upsetting then–World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. He also defeated Roger Federer in the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, cementing his status as a top-tier competitor. This run marked the peak of his career and remains a defining moment in Japanese tennis history.

Recent activity and the retirement decision

Nishikori most recently competed in a tour-level event at last year's Cincinnati Open. He played in an ATP Challenger event last week in Savannah, Georgia, signalling his continued commitment to the sport even as his body has demanded more recovery time in recent seasons.

Nishikori's farewell message

"Since I was a child, I have been passionate about tennis and I have continued to pursue it with only one dream in my heart: 'I want to compete on the world stage,'" Nishikori wrote in a social media statement. "Reaching the ATP Tour, playing at the highest level of competition, and maintaining a presence in the Top 10 is something I am extremely proud of. Whether in victory or defeat, the special atmosphere I felt in packed arenas is irreplaceable."

He added: "My love for tennis and my belief that I could become a stronger player always brought me back to the court. I feel that all of these experiences have enriched and shaped my life. I am deeply grateful [for] my family and to everyone who has supported me at all times. To be honest, I still wish I could continue my playing career. Even so, looking back on everything up to this point, 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 the remaining matches and fight to the very end."

Legacy and impact on Japanese tennis

Nishikori's retirement marks the end of an era for Japanese men's tennis. His sustained presence in the global Top 10 and major-tournament runs opened pathways for younger Japanese players and elevated the sport's profile at home. The 2014 US Open final appearance remains the deepest run by any Japanese male player in a Grand Slam singles tournament.