Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori has announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2026 season. Nishikori, a prominent figure in Japanese tennis, holds the distinction of being the highest-ranked player in the country’s history and the first to break into the world’s Top 10. He reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
In a social media post, Nishikori expressed his decision to retire, stating his lifelong passion for tennis and his dream of competing on the global stage. The 36-year-old, with 12 ATP Tour titles to his name, including victories in Tokyo in 2012 and 2014, has participated in the Nitto ATP Finals four times, making it to the semi-finals on two occasions.
During his standout season in 2014, Nishikori clinched four tour-level titles and achieved a notable 54-14 win-loss record. He notably reached the final of the US Open that year, defeating top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and also had success at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, where he overcame Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.
Nishikori, who recently competed in the Cincinnati Open and an ATP Challenger event in Savannah, Georgia, expressed gratitude towards his family and supporters for their unwavering backing throughout his career. Despite a desire to continue playing, he reflected on his achievements with pride and vowed to give his best in his remaining matches.
