Kei Nishikori secured a victory on Tuesday, marking his return to the ATP Tour after a two-year absence. He defeated Jordan Thompson with a score of 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) in the Atlanta Open.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the runner-up in the 2014 U.S. Open, made a comeback to the ATP Tour after a two-year hiatus, which was due to his last appearance at Indian Wells in October 2021, followed by hip surgery in January 2022 that kept him out of action for over 17 months.
Nishikori returned to competitive tennis in June and achieved success by winning a Challenger Tour event in Puerto Rico. Despite playing in lower-level Challenger events, he expressed his satisfaction with his performance in the recent match against Jordan Thompson at the Atlanta Open, acknowledging that facing tougher opponents on the ATP Tour is a different challenge. He felt he played well and was pleased with his performance against Thompson.
Now 33 years old, Nishikori has experienced a significant drop in the ATP Tour rankings, currently standing at No. 439. In 2015, he reached an impressive career-high ranking of No. 4, shortly after his memorable semifinal victory over Novak Djokovic at the U.S. Open, where he became the first male Grand Slam singles finalist from Asia.
Kei Nishikori’s Resilient Return: Overcoming Challenges on the ATP Tour
When asked about his goals for the 2023 season, Kei Nishikori responded by saying that he doesn’t have any specific targets in terms of scoring goals. Instead, his primary focus is to approach each match with a commitment to play his best and not put unnecessary pressure on himself.
Nishikori’s return to the ATP-level contest at the Atlanta Open in 2023 proved to be challenging, just as he had anticipated. The weather conditions were tough, with a temperature of 90 degrees and high humidity, and he had to face a formidable opponent in Jordan Thompson, who had recently given Novak Djokovic a tough fight at Wimbledon.
Nishikori acknowledged the difficulty of the match, describing Thompson as a steady and consistent player from the baseline who forces him to stay aggressive throughout the game. Despite the tough conditions and tough opponent, Nishikori approached the match with determination and resilience.
The match presented a significant reality check for Kei Nishikori, who has faced numerous challenges due to his hip surgery in early 2022, leading to the postponement of his return on multiple occasions during the 2023 season. Originally set to begin in Delray Beach in February, he eventually made his comeback at a Challenger event in Puerto Rico last month.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Nishikori defied expectations and displayed remarkable resilience in the tournament, winning five consecutive matches to claim the title, with just one set dropped throughout the journey.
Nishikori’s playing style is known for his powerful groundstrokes, exceptional court coverage, and the ability to hit winners from both wings. His speed and agility on the court have earned him the nickname “Air Kei” among his fans.
Beyond his on-court achievements, Nishikori has also been instrumental in popularizing tennis in Japan and inspiring a new generation of players from Asia to pursue professional careers in tennis.
