Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori lost to American Frances Tiafoe 4:6, 4:6 in the first round of the Japan Open in Tokyo, Japan. It was the 36-year-old athlete's final match before retirement, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
After the defeat, Nishikori accepted applause from spectators at the Ariake Coliseum. The tournament organizers honored his two decades in professional tennis with a video featuring messages from leading players, including Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic noted Nishikori's resilience and his ability to return to the court after injuries. Carlos Alcaraz said he considers himself a fan of the Japanese player, while Grigor Dimitrov, Alex de Minaur and Andy Murray praised his two-handed backhand.
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Nishikori became the first tennis player from Asia to play in a Grand Slam singles final, which happened at the 2014 US Open. He was also the second Asian representative after Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan to enter the world's top 10 rankings.
The Japanese player's highest ranking was fourth in the world in 2015. During his career, he won 12 ATP titles, including winning his home tournament in Tokyo twice, in 2012 and 2014. In recent years, the tennis player has been plagued by injuries and is currently ranked 436th in the world.
Stefanos Tsitsipas thanked Nishikori for his work in a post on X and highlighted his aggressive counterattacking style of play. According to the Greek tennis player, Nishikori inspired pride and strong emotions among fans across Japan.
Source: UA
