Kei Nishikori, the Japanese tennis pioneer who reached the 2014 U.S. Open final, will retire at the end of the 2026 season. The 36-year-old announced the decision Friday, closing a chapter that saw him become the first Japanese man to play a Grand Slam singles final and reach a career-high ranking of No. 4 in 2015.
Nishikori won 12 ATP Tour titles but has struggled with injuries in recent years, dropping to No. 464 in the world rankings. His last top-10 appearance was in October 2019.
"I am extremely proud of reaching the ATP Tour and maintaining a presence in the top 10," Nishikori wrote on social media. "I will cherish every moment of the remaining matches and fight to the very end."
His last tour-level event was the 2023 Cincinnati Open. He also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeating Rafael Nadal.