Kei Nishikori, who made history as Japan’s first Grand Slam singles finalist and reached a career-high world ranking of No. 4, announced he will retire at the end of the 2026 season. The 36-year-old tennis star revealed the decision on Friday, marking the end of a groundbreaking professional journey that inspired a generation in Japan.
Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam final at the 2014 US Open and was the second Asian male to break into the ATP top 10 after Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan. He peaked at No. 4 in 2015 and captured 12 ATP Tour titles. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he won a bronze medal by defeating Rafael Nadal in a thrilling three-set match.
Despite his achievements, Nishikori has struggled with injuries for years, slipping to world No. 464. He admitted last month that he was “barely hanging on” physically. In a heartfelt social media statement, Nishikori wrote: “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… I will cherish every moment of the remaining matches and fight to the very end.”
His most recent tour-level appearance was at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, though he has played in five Challenger events this year. Nishikori’s retirement will conclude a career that redefined Japanese tennis and earned him admiration worldwide.