Japan, US Open runner-up, Forbes highest-paid: Everything you always wanted to know about Kei Nishikori (but never had the time to find out) – updated with Helsinki Challenger title
Kei Nishikori is the highest-ranked ATP player ever from Japan. Here are responses to some common questions you may have about the former world No 4
Kei Nishikori Rogers Cup
You can follow Kei Nishikori on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Where was Kei Nishikori born?
Kei Nishikori was born in Shimane, Japan. He moved to the US at age 14 to train at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He didn’t speak any English when he arrived. Nishikori still trains at IMG Academy, formerly known as the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, today.
What did Kei Nishikori do at the 2024 Montreal Masters?
Nishikori earned his first Top 20 win since 2021 at the ATP Montreal Masters by beating world No 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round. This is the first time that he has reached the third round at the ATP Masters 1000 in three years.
The Japanese player also became the third lowest-ranked player to reach the last 16 at an ATP Masters 1000 event since the series began in 1990. He went on to reach the quarter-finals.
IS KEI Nishikori BACK ON TOUR?
Yes. The Japanese star returned to the ATP Tour in the 2024 Miami Open. This was his first tournament on the tour since Atlanta in 2023. Nishikori lost his first-round match, 6-3, 6-4, to Sebastian Ofner of Austria.
But he won his first title in more than a year when he lifted the Helsinki Challenger Tour event title in November 2024, pushing him back to the verge of a return to the world’s top 100.
What did Nishikori accomplish at the Atlanta Open in 2023?
After almost two years on the sidelines due to injuries, Nishikori won his first two matches at the Atlanta Open on July 25 and 27, 2023 – his first ATP level wins since October 2021 – beating Australia’s Jordan Thompson and China’s Juncheng Shang.
Nishikori won an ATP Challenger title in June, his first tournament back on the tour.
What was “Project 45?”
“Project 45” was the code name for Nishikori’s quest to become the highest-ranked men’s player in Japanese tennis history. Previously in Japan, Shuzo Matsuoka was the highest-ranked player, having reached No 45 in the ATP rankings. After reaching the Shanghai semi-finals in October of 2011, Nishikori reached No 30 in the rankings to become the highest-ranked Japanese man in ATP World Tour Rankings history. Matsuoka had reached No 46 on July 6, 1992.
Nishikori went on to peak at No 4 in the world rankings in March 2015.
Who is Nishikori’s coach?
Nishikori is coached by American Michael Chang and Max Mirnyi. In February 2024, it was announced that former Australian Open winner Thomas Johansson will join the Nishikori camp.
Chang is a former Grand Slam champion, who is also the youngest man to ever win a major title (Roland-Garros, 1989). Nishikori had also worked with Dante Bottini for several years, but they parted ways last year and Mirnyi moved in to share coaching duties with Chang.
How many ATP titles has Nishikori won?
Nishikori owns 12 singles titles as of November 2024. He has a 12-14 overall record in finals. He has won three titles at Memphis, two titles at Tokyo and two titles at Barcelona. Nishikori has never won an ATP Masters 1000 title.
What is Nishikori’s best performance at a Grand Slam event?
Nishikori made a run to the US Open final in 2014, where he was defeated by Marin Cilic in the final round. Nishikori recorded successive wins over world No 6 Milos Raonic, world No 4 Stan Wawrinka and world No 1 Novak Djokovic, before falling to Cilic in straight sets in the final. He is to this day the only Japanese man to have reached a major final. Nishikori owns two wins over reigning world No 1 players, both over Djokovic. The other one came at Basel in 2011.
How DID KEI NISHIKORI DO against the Big Three?
Nishikori owns a 7-38 lifetime record over the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He owns three wins over Federer, two over Nadal, including a victory in the bronze medal match at the 2016 Olympic Games (the first tennis medal for Japan in 96 years) and two over Djokovic.
How active is Nishikori on social media?
Kei is very active on social media. He has his own app, keisapp.com, which is available on the Apple app store and on Google play. He also has 521,000 followers on Instagram as of November 10, 2024, and over 962,000 followers on Twitter.
What is Nishikori’s favorite surface?
Good question. He list hard and clay as his favorite surface on his ATP bio. He has appeared in two Masters 1000 finals on clay, and two Masters 1000 finals on hard courts. In addition to his US Open final on hard courts, Nishikori has two more US Open semi-final appearances to his name. He also has three quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
How rich is Nishikori?
Nishikori is very wealthy. He has been consistently ranked among the highest earning tennis players by Forbes. In 2022, he earned over $13.2 million and has endorsement deals with Uniqlo, Japan Airlines and Airweave mattresses amongst others.
What is Nishikori’s highest ranking?
Nishikori peaked at No 4 in the world rankings in March 2015. You can find his current ranking and his rankings history on his ATP Tour profile page.
How much prize money has Nishikori won?
As of November 10, 2024, Nishikori has won more than $25.6 million in career prize money. You can find his updated prize money stats on his ATP Tour profile page.
