“Since getting a feel for my game back last summer, I have been improving. I’m back to 80 percent,” Kei Nishikori said before the start of his campaign at the Australian Open earlier this year. Although he cleared the first round in a grueling five-setter against Thiago Monteiro, the 35-year-old veteran proved to be no match for Tommy Paul who sent him packing with a bagel and a breadstick in round two. It was hardly a surprise, given Nishikori’s fitness. The Japanese ace did make a deep run in the challenger tournament in Phoenix last week, raising hopes, but as he looked all set for another strong campaign in Miami, a rather heartbreaking news came by.

Nishikori had to withdraw from the Miami Open due to a back injury. Just hours before his scheduled match against Yoshihito Nishioka, he shared the news on social media. “Unfortunately I have to pull out of the @MiamiOpen today. My body has not recovered enough from the matches last week. I will now go home and get ready for the clay court season,” the 35-year-old wrote on X. This means Nishioka will now face Lucky loser Hugo Gaston in the first round. If he wins, he could meet Matteo Berrettini in the last 64.

Nishikori’s absence is unfortunate, but it is not entirely surprising given his history with injuries. The Japanese veteran has been battling various physical issues for years. Since undergoing hip surgery in 2022, he has struggled to find consistent form and fitness. After missing the entire 2022 season, he worked hard in Bradenton, Florida, to make a comeback in 2023. But an ankle sprain turned into a major problem. What initially seemed minor became a lingering issue that kept him sidelined for most of the year. In the end, he played just one tour-level event in 2023 before finally returning at the end of 2024.

Nishikori’s comeback in late 2024 was, however, promising, as he reached the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 in Tokyo and won a Challenger title in Helsinki. That performance even earned him a nomination for the ATP’s Comeback Player of the Year. But his fitness has been a concern. Even so, the 35-year-old remains motivated to make up for lost time. His hunger for competition has not diminished.

Kei Nishikori reveals his “continued” passion for tennis

Kei Nishikori has always been a fighter. He came close to Grand Slam glory in 2014, reaching the US Open final. That year, fans expected a Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic showdown. But Nishikori and Marin Cilic had other ideas.

The Japanese star stunned Djokovic in four sets. Then, Cilic delivered an even bigger shock by crushing Federer in straight sets. In the final though, Cilic was unstoppable, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Nishikori felt the weight of the moment, but he had already made history as the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final.

More than a decade later, the former World No.4 is still chasing wins. In December 2024, he spoke about his passion for the game.“I still have the same passion from say 10 years ago,” Nishikori told the ATP. “I still love tennis, I still love competing, playing matches with these guys, especially something new. There are players like (Jannik) Sinner, (Carlos) Alcaraz, the younger guys I haven’t played in a match. That’s something I’d like to do this year if I can raise my level and ranking. That’s really good motivation for me, to play those younger talented players.”

Despite the setbacks, Kei Nishikori refuses to give up. The clay season is just around the corner, and his fans will be hoping to see him back in action soon. The question remains—can Nishikori overcome his injury woes and make another deep run in a tour-level tournament soon?