Kei Nishikori reveals insights into staying competitive after dealing with constant injuries in the past four years

Kei Nishikori recently had his 450th match win, becoming the eighth active ATP player with the most match wins.

Kei Nishikori reveals insights into staying competitive after dealing with constant injuries in the past four years

Kei Nishikori (image via X)

At the 2025 Madrid Open, Kei Nishikori recorded his 450th career win as he defeated Aleksandar Vukic in his opening round match. Nishikori joined as the eighth of active players with 450+ wins and became the first Asian player to achieve the feat. The other seven active players in this list include Novak Djokovic, Richard Gasquet, Marin Cilic, Gael Monfils, Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev, and Grigor Dimitrov. 

At 35 years old, Nishikori has nothing left to prove, and it seems unrealistic to expect him to return to his peak after the serious injuries he has endured. However, he has found reasons for excitement and enjoyment in continuing to play. Nishikori shared insights with ATP about his longevity, signaling to his opponents that the samurai spirit is still very much alive.

I feel like I’m returning to a high level. It took a long time to get here, but I’m in perfect physical condition now, and I look forward to the coming months with great excitement. I’ve grown accustomed to enduring pain, having to put in twice the effort to compete, but that makes me enjoy the journey even more. The key is to maintain a positive attitude and have patience.

Kei Nishikori said to ATP

Nishikori has had an illustrious career, being a flag bearer of tennis for his nation. He is the only Japanese man in the Open Era to have been ranked in the top five in singles, peaking at a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in March 2015. 

Nishikori has clinched twelve titles on the ATP Tour and was runner-up at the 2014 US Open, making him the only man representing an Asian country to contest a Grand Slam singles final. He also became the first person from Asia to qualify for the ATP Finals, reaching the semifinals in 2014 and 2016. In addition, Nishikori defeated Rafael Nadal to win the bronze medal in singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, bringing Japan its first Olympic tennis medal in 96 years.

Kei Nishikori will face Denis Shapovalov in the next round of the Madrid Open

2014 finalist Kei Nishikori defeated Aleksandar Vukic in three sets and will face Denis Shapovalov in the next round of the Madrid Open. This will mark their fourth meeting on court, with the Japanese leading their head-to-head 2-1. 

Kei Nishikori Denis Shapovalov Madrid Open
Kei Nishikori, Denis Shapovalov (images via X)

They last met at the Hong Kong Open this year, where Nishikori defeated Shapovalov in straight sets in the Round of 32. In this tournament, he also reached his first ATP Tour final in six years, as a result of which he reentered the top 100 in the rankings for the first time since June 2022.

Denis Shapovalov pokes fun at Diego Dedura-Palomero’s BMW Open celebration

Kei Nishikori’s upcoming opponent, Denis Shapovalov, last competed at the BMW Open, where he had to retire in his Round of 32 match against lucky loser Diego Dedura-Palomero. The match went viral for Dedura-Palomero’s crucifixion-style celebration as he celebrated his first ATP main draw win by tracing a cross on clay and lying in the center of it.

He is also the first 2008-born player to win an ATP main draw match. However, tennis fans felt that his reaction was excessive, considering his opponent had to retire due to injury. The celebration was pretty short-lived, as Dedura-Palomero lost his next round match against Zizou Bergs in straight sets. 

Diego Dedura-Palomero
Diego Dedura-Palomero (via X)

A week later in Madrid, Dedura-Palomero was seen back in action as he faced Daniel Elahi Galan in the qualifying rounds at the tournament. And on an adjacent practice court, Shapovalov spotted the young German too.

One social media clip showed Shapovalov seemingly poking fun at the teenager’s celebration and laughing with his team. The Canadian is seen tracing a cross on the clay and pretending to fall back onto it before the camera pans over to Dedura-Palomero’s match taking place just yards away.

Unfortunately for Dedura-Palomero, it seems Shapovalov had the last laugh in Madrid. The 17-year-old’s trip to the Spanish capital was cut short after he fell to the Colombian 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-1 on Monday.

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