Kei Nishikori facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kei Nishikori

Nishikori at the 2018 French Open
Native name	錦織 圭
Country (sports)	Japan
Born	(1989-12-29) 29 December 1989 (age 35) Matsue, Shimane, Japan
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Turned pro	2007
Coach	Thomas Johansson
Prize money	US$ 25,973,785 19th in all-time rankings
Official website	keinishikori.com
Singles
Career record	451–230 (66.23%)
Career titles	12
Highest ranking	No. 4 (2 March 2015)
Current ranking	No. 66 (9 June 2025)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	QF (2012, 2015, 2016, 2019)
French Open	QF (2015, 2017, 2019)
Wimbledon	QF (2018, 2019)
US Open	F (2014)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	SF (2014, 2016)
Olympic Games	Bronze (2016)
Doubles
Career record	27–36 (42.86%)
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 167 (19 March 2012)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open	2R (2011)
Wimbledon	2R (2011)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	QF (2021)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	QF (2014)
Medal record Men's tennis Representing  Japan Olympic Games Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Singles

Kei Nishikori (錦織 圭, Nishikori Kei, [ɲiɕi̥koꜜɾi keꜜː]; born 29 December 1989) is a Japanese professional tennis player. He is famous for being the only Japanese man in the Open Era to be ranked in the top five in singles. He reached his highest ranking of world No. 4 in March 2015.

Kei Nishikori has won twelve titles on the ATP Tour. He was also a runner-up at the 2014 US Open. This made him the only man from an Asian country to play in a major Grand Slam singles final. He was also the first man from Asia to qualify for the ATP Finals, reaching the semifinals in 2014 and 2016. He is currently the top-ranked Japanese player.

In 2016, Nishikori won the bronze medal in singles at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. He defeated Rafael Nadal to achieve this. This was Japan's first Olympic tennis medal in 96 years. He is known for winning many matches that go to a deciding set. He has one of the highest win percentages in matches that go to five sets.

About Kei Nishikori

Kei Nishikori was born in Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. His father, Kiyoshi, is an engineer, and his mother, Eri, is a piano teacher. He has an older sister named Reina.

He started playing tennis when he was five years old. In 2001, he won the All Japan Tennis Championships for Kids. He later graduated from Aomori-Yamada High School. At 14, Nishikori moved to Bradenton, Florida, to join the IMG Academy in 2004. He has been coached by famous players like Michael Chang.

Outside of tennis, Kei enjoys soccer, golf, reading, and listening to music. In December 2020, he married his long-term girlfriend, Mai Yamauchi.

Kei's Tennis Journey

Early Career and First Wins

Kei Nishikori played his first junior match in April 2002 when he was 13. He won a tournament in Rabat, Morocco, in 2004. He also won the boys' doubles title at the 2006 Junior French Open. As a junior, he had a good record, reaching a world ranking of No. 7 in July 2006.

He turned professional in 2007. He reached his first ATP quarterfinal at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships. He was the youngest player to do so since Boris Becker in 1985.

In 2008, Nishikori won his first ATP title at the Delray Beach tournament. He was ranked world No. 244 at the time. He surprised many by beating top seed James Blake in the final. This made him the first Japanese man in almost 16 years to win an ATP event. He also made his US Open debut that year. He reached the round of 16, which was the first time a Japanese player had done so in 71 years.

Overcoming Injuries

In 2009, Nishikori faced a tough year due to a right elbow injury. He had to withdraw from major tournaments like the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Despite this, he was named the 2008 ATP Newcomer of the Year. He was the first Asian player to win this award.

He made his comeback in 2010. He played in his first French Open and reached the second round. At the US Open, he reached the third round, which was his best Grand Slam result that year.

Breaking into the Top Ranks

In 2011, Nishikori reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal in Shanghai. He also made history by defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic at the Swiss Indoors tournament. This win helped him reach a career-high ranking of world No. 24.

In 2012, Nishikori reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. He was the first Japanese male player to do so in 80 years. He also won his second ATP title at the Japan Open in Tokyo. This was a historic win as he became the first Japanese man to win the Japan Open in its 41-year history.

He continued to climb in 2013, winning his third career title at the U.S. National Indoor Championships. He also defeated Roger Federer at the Madrid Open.

Reaching a Grand Slam Final

Nishikori at the 2008 US Open.

The year 2014 was a big one for Kei Nishikori. He started working with coach Michael Chang. He defended his title in Memphis and reached his first Masters 1000 final at the Madrid Open. He faced Rafael Nadal in the final but had to retire due to a back injury.

The highlight of 2014 was his run at the 2014 US Open. He defeated top players like Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka. In the semifinals, he beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. This made him the first Asian man ever to reach a Grand Slam final. In the final, he lost to Marin Čilić. His performance at the US Open helped him reach world No. 8. He ended the year ranked world No. 5 after reaching the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals.

Continued Success and Olympic Medal

In 2015, Nishikori reached world No. 4, his highest career ranking. He won the Memphis Open for the third time in a row. He also defended his title at the Barcelona Open. He reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the first time.

Nishikori at the 2016 US Open.

The year 2016 brought a major achievement: an Olympic bronze medal. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Nishikori defeated Rafael Nadal to win the bronze. This was Japan's first Olympic tennis medal in 96 years. He also reached the semifinals of the US Open again that year, beating world No. 2 Andy Murray in a thrilling match.

Injuries and Comebacks

In 2017, Nishikori suffered a wrist injury that forced him to miss the rest of the season. His ranking dropped outside the top 20.

He made a strong return in 2018. He won an ATP Challenger title in Dallas. He also reached his fourth Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo. He made it to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the first time, meaning he had reached the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slam events. He also reached the US Open semifinals again. He ended the season ranked world No. 9.

In 2019, Nishikori won his first title since 2016 at the Brisbane International. He reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.

From 2020 to 2022, Nishikori continued to face challenges, including a hip injury that required surgery in 2022. He made a comeback at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he defeated Andrey Rublev for his first top 10 win since 2018.

Recent Years: Return to Form

After a long break due to injury, Nishikori returned to play in 2023. He won an ATP Challenger title in Puerto Rico, even though he was unranked at the time. He reached the quarterfinals at the Atlanta Open.

In 2024, he played at the French Open and won his first Grand Slam match since 2021. He also reached his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal in five years at the National Bank Open. This helped his ranking improve significantly. He also reached another quarterfinal at his home tournament, the Japan Open. In November 2024, he won another ATP Challenger title in Helsinki, Finland.

In 2025, Nishikori reached his first ATP Tour final in six years at the Hong Kong Open. This brought him back into the top 100 rankings. At the 2025 Australian Open, he won his 29th five-set match, showing his fighting spirit. In February 2025, he recorded his 300th hardcourt career win, a rare achievement. In May 2025, he achieved his 450th career win at the Madrid Open, becoming the first Asian player to reach this milestone.

Playing Style

Kei Nishikori is known for his solid and consistent shots. He plays mostly from the back of the court, using his groundstrokes to move his opponents around. He has a strong two-handed backhand, which many experts say is one of the best on the tour.

He is also praised for his ability to return serves very well. He can hit powerful and accurate winners off his returns. While his serve is not the strongest, it is consistent. He uses his strong groundstrokes to make up for any weakness in his serve.

Nishikori is famous for winning a high percentage of matches that go to a deciding set. This shows his mental toughness and ability to perform under pressure.

Equipment and Sponsors

Nishikori at the 2015 Australian Open.

Kei Nishikori uses a Wilson Ultra 95 tennis racket. He wears Uniqlo clothing and Nike Vapor Tour shoes.

He has many sponsors, including Nissin Foods, TAG Heuer, Fast Retailing, LVMH Moët Hennessy, Jaccs Co., Wowow, Air Weave mattresses, EA Games, Delta Air Lines, and Japan Airlines. His image was even put on a Boeing 777-300ER airplane, which was called "JET-KEI." You might often see him wearing a Cup Noodles badge on his sleeve during matches.

Career Highlights

Grand Slam Finals

Kei Nishikori has reached one Grand Slam final in his career.

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Lost	2014	US Open	Hard	Marin Čilić	3–6, 3–6, 3–6

Images for kids

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  Nishikori at the 2011 French Open

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  Nishikori at the 2013 Wimbledon Championships

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  Nishikori at the 2012 Summer Olympics

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  Kei Nishikori at the 2018 Citi Open

See also

In Spanish: Kei Nishikori para niños