Kei Nishikori to Say Farewell at the End of the 2026 Season
The celebrated Japanese athlete, Nishikori, once soared to World No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Date: April 30, 2026
Photo Credit: ATP Tour/Getty Images
Nishikori boasts a remarkable record of 12 ATP Tour singles titles.
Reported by ATP Staff
In a heartfelt post on social media, Kei Nishikori has revealed his decision to retire at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
“Today marks a significant moment for me,” Nishikori shared.
“From my childhood, tennis has been my passion, and I pursued it fueled by a singular dream: ‘I want to compete on the global stage.’ Playing at the ATP Tour level and maintaining a Top 10 presence fills me with immense pride. The unforgettable atmosphere of packed arenas, in both triumph and loss, is truly unparalleled.”
Nishikori has not just been a key player for Japanese tennis; he has blazed trails as the highest-ranked player in the nation’s history and the first to break into the prestigious Top 10. His remarkable journey saw him reach as high as No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
At 36 years old, Nishikori boasts a collection of 12 ATP Tour titles, including victories at home in Tokyo during 2012 and 2014. With 451 tour-level match wins under his belt, he has competed at the Nitto ATP Finals four times (2014-16, 2018), reaching the semi-finals twice (2014 and 2016).
The pinnacle of Nishikori’s career came in 2014, when he clinched four tour-level titles and achieved a stellar 54-14 record, as per the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
That memorable year also saw him battle his way to the US Open final, notably defeating then-World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and also advancing to the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, where he triumphed over Roger Federer.
Currently ranked World No. 464, Nishikori has earned a reputation as one of the best deciding-set players in tennis history, winning an impressive 72.4% of his deciding sets in tour-level matches. Only legends Bjorn Borg (73.4%) and John McEnroe (72.8%) topped him in this regard.
His most recent tournament appearance was at last year’s Cincinnati Open, followed by participation in an ATP Challenger event last week in Savannah, Georgia.
“My unwavering love for tennis and belief in becoming a stronger player perpetually drew me back to the court. Each experience has significantly enriched and shaped my life. I’m profoundly grateful to my family and to all the supporters throughout my journey,” Nishikori expressed. “While I wish I could prolong my career, reflecting on my journey brings me pride in knowing I gave my all.”
“This journey has brought me joy. I will treasure the final moments on the court and fight until the very last match.”
