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Tennis: Japan's Kei Nishikori Announces Retirement Due to Injuries

From Liberty Times · (10m ago) Chinese Mixed tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori announced his retirement from professional tennis at the end of the current season.
  • Nishikori cited ongoing struggles with injuries as the primary reason for his decision.
  • The announcement comes after a career marked by significant achievements, including reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 4 and winning an Olympic bronze medal.

Japanese tennis icon Kei Nishikori has delivered a somber announcement that has sent ripples through the nation's sports community: he will retire at the conclusion of the current season. The decision, revealed via his social media channels, stems from Nishikori's persistent battle with injuries that have hampered his ability to compete at the highest level.

Since I was young, I loved tennis and pursued it with the belief that I wanted to compete on the world stage.

— Kei NishikoriExpressing his lifelong passion for tennis.

Nishikori's career has been a source of immense pride for Japan. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4, became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam final at the 2014 US Open, and famously defeated Rafael Nadal to win a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. These milestones have inspired a generation of athletes in Japan and cemented his legacy as one of the country's greatest sportsmen.

Being able to stand on the top stage and break into the top 10 in the world was a great source of pride for me.

— Kei NishikoriReflecting on his career achievements.

However, the latter part of his career has been overshadowed by physical setbacks. Following hip surgery in January 2022, Nishikori made a comeback in June 2023, even winning a Challenger event. Yet, recurring injuries continued to plague him, ultimately leading to this difficult retirement decision. While the physical toll has been significant, Nishikori also faced public scrutiny last year due to reports of an extramarital affair, which undoubtedly added to the challenges he navigated.

In the process of repeatedly fighting injuries, I felt anxious because I couldn't perform well and was almost overwhelmed by unease, but my love for tennis allowed me to continue.

— Kei NishikoriDescribing the impact of injuries on his mental state.

Reflecting on his journey, Nishikori expressed deep gratitude for his love of tennis and the opportunities it provided. He spoke of the irreplaceable memories forged through competition, the thrill of victory, and the sting of defeat. Despite the frustrations caused by his injuries, he stated that his passion for the sport kept him going. Nishikori concluded by affirming that he gave his all, a sentiment that resonates with the unwavering support he has received from fans in Japan throughout his illustrious career.

Looking back on my entire career, I think I can say with my head held high, 'I gave it my all.'

— Kei NishikoriSummarizing his career with a sense of fulfillment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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