Kei Nishikori, the player who carried Asian men's tennis into the sport's elite, said a formal goodbye to the professional game in Tokyo on October 11, 2026, with Roger Federer and a cast of tennis greats on hand at Ariake Coliseum to mark the occasion.
Speaking at a press conference attended by The Storm Media, the 36-year-old said walking away had finally released him from years of injuries and pressure. He also admitted that one ambition went unfulfilled: he never won a Grand Slam or a Masters 1000 title.
The farewell, staged as Uniqlo LifeWear Day Tokyo 2026, came roughly a week after Nishikori played the last match of his career at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
Retirement Frees Nishikori From Pain But Not Regret
Nishikori's career was defined as much by his talent as by the injuries that repeatedly interrupted it. Looking back on two decades at the top level, he said stepping away had lifted the physical and mental strain he had carried for years.
The relief, he said, shows up in small things. He can now drop into a drugstore to buy cold medicine whenever he likes, or order two desserts at a restaurant without a second thought, pleasures that strict competition routines once ruled out.
Still, Nishikori did not hide his disappointment. While he helped Asian tennis earn a place on the world stage, he said failing to lift one of the four major trophies or a Masters 1000 title remains his greatest regret.
He singled out Masaaki Morita, the former president of the Japan Tennis Association, for thanks. It was Morita's tennis fund that sent a teenage Nishikori to train in the United States, a move he credited with making his career possible.
Federer Recalls Nishikori As His Teenage Hitting Partner
Before his solo press conference, Nishikori appeared alongside Federer, Japanese wheelchair tennis legend Shingo Kunieda, and British wheelchair player Gordon Reid at a joint press conference.
Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion from Switzerland, said he was honored to travel to Japan to celebrate Nishikori's career and praised him for inspiring fans over many years. Nishikori said that sharing a stage with his idol and other top players just one week after retiring left him feeling deeply happy. Kunieda and Reid both described the gathering as a historic moment for world tennis.
During an on-court talk session earlier in the day, Federer recalled the time a 16-year-old Nishikori served as his practice partner. The quality of the teenager's shots and his raw energy left a strong impression, Federer said, and convinced him that Nishikori was destined for big things.
Nishikori, in turn, said Federer had always been the player he admired most. In their early meetings, he admitted, his admiration ran so deep that he struggled to summon the will to beat him. He added that he still marvels at the effortless feel for the ball Federer shows in practice.
Mixed Doubles Surprise And A Clinic For Eight Juniors
Organizers kept one item off the published program: a surprise doubles match in a new mixed format that paired Nishikori with Kunieda against Federer and Reid, bringing able-bodied and wheelchair players onto the same court.
Nishikori and Federer then coached eight junior players together, a segment meant to underline the passing of the game to the next generation.
As the event wound down, the arena screened a surprise tribute video prepared by fans. The players closed the afternoon by hitting signed balls into the stands as the crowd cheered.
Nishikori Credits Fans And Jokes About Meeting Takaichi
At his own press conference, Nishikori thanked supporters who had followed him throughout his career. He said that, as a Japanese player, being able to spark a tennis boom at home and feel the public's support had been the main thing that kept him going.
He also recalled competing on the international stage alongside Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, as the two carried Japan's hopes. He said he wants to keep promoting the social value of sport in Japan.
Asked whom he most wanted to meet now that he has retired, Nishikori paused before answering that it might be Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. He then looked puzzled at his own reply and laughed, wondering aloud what he would do if that part were broadcast, drawing laughter from the room.
Twelve Titles And A US Open Final Define His Legacy
Born in Shimane Prefecture, Nishikori picked up a racket at age five. At 13, with backing from the Morita fund, he left Japan for the IMG Academy in Florida, the start of a career that would reshape expectations for Asian men in the sport.
He won 12 ATP singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of No. 4. At the 2014 US Open, he became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final, and he added a men's singles bronze medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. For more than a decade, he was the leading figure in Asian men's tennis.
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