Tennis: Japan's 'Prince' Nishikori wins Washington opener in comeback victory

Veteran Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori marked his return to the tour with a hard-fought victory at the Washington Open, signaling a promising start to what he has described as his "last dance" before retirement. The 36-year-old battled back from a set down to defeat 21-year-old Chinese rising star Shang Juncheng 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-4 in a thrilling three-set match.

Nishikori, a former world No. 4 who has been plagued by injuries in recent years and currently sits at world No. 721, relied on a wildcard entry to compete in the ATP 500 event. This marks his first tour appearance in over three months since announcing his intention to retire at the end of the current season. After securing the win, a visibly relieved Nishikori shared his thoughts on his performance.

"I haven't played in a long time, and my condition on the court was much better than I expected," Nishikori said. "I'd give myself a 70 [out of 100]. While I'm not completely satisfied, it was a good match, and it was a relief."

Looking ahead, Nishikori is preparing for his final tournaments. He is scheduled to face 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar in the next round in Washington. Furthermore, he has partnered with former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka to compete in the mixed doubles event at the upcoming US Open, scheduled to begin on August 25. Nishikori, the 2014 US Open men's singles runner-up, and Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, bring significant Grand Slam experience to their mixed doubles pairing.

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I haven't played in a long time, and my condition on the court was much better than I expected. I'd give myself a 70 [out of 100]. While I'm not completely satisfied, it was a good match, and it was a relief.