Nishikori, Who Defeated Djokovic & Federer, To Retire At The End Of 2026 Season

Nishikori, who defeated Djokovic & Federer, to retire at the end of 2026 season (Image Source: IANS)

PIF ATP Rankings: Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori has announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2026 season.

Nishikori has been a critical figure for Japanese tennis, not only becoming the highest-ranked player in the country’s history, but also the first to break into the world’s Top 10. The Japanese star has climbed as high as No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

"Today, I have an announcement. I have decided to retire from professional tennis at the end of this season," Nishikori wrote in a lengthy post he shared on social media.

"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.' 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.

The 36-year-old owns 12 ATP Tour titles, including two on home soil in Tokyo in 2012 and 2014. The winner of 451 tour-level matches has also competed at the Nitto ATP Finals four times (2014-16, 2018), reaching the semi-finals twice (2014 and 2016).

Nishikori enjoyed the best season of his career in 2014, when he won four tour-level titles and posted a 54-14 record, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index.

That season, the Japanese star reached the US Open final, upsetting then-World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. Nishikori also advanced to the last four at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, where he defeated Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, ATP reports.

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.

That season, the Japanese star reached the US Open final, upsetting then-World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. Nishikori also advanced to the last four at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, where he defeated Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, ATP reports.

"I am truly happy to have walked this path. I will cherish every moment of the remaining matches and fight to the very end," he wrote.

Article Source: IANS