"If I need another surgery, I won't be able to fight anymore": Kei Nishikori nearly retired after injury hell
ATP
Kei Nishikori is back in business in many ways including in playing a five set match as the Japanese ace and former World No.4 took down Thiago Monteiro coming from two sets down to win 4-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 at the Australian Open.
It has been a bit of a renaissance though for Nishikori who reached the final of the Hong Kong Open and has been steadily improving since over the past 18 months.
Nishikori spoke about the toll that injuries have taken on him and said that if he needs another surgery, he won't fight any longer and that he came very close to giving up the sport that has given him so much.
But even at 35, he still has the hunger and desire and seemingly the game to attempt to trouble the very best.
"Yeah, almost. Almost last year because I had my knee and shoulder two years ago, and I almost came back. I got injured again. It was like up and downs. I was thinking, like, if I have maybe another surgery, then I think mentally I won’t be able to fight anymore. It was, like, two in a row. I had a year I couldn't play and another half year I couldn't play because of an injury I got, so... That was the toughest time I think, end of 2023 maybe," said Nishikori.
“Well, I just still love to play tennis. I love to compete. I wanted to play on a big stadium like today. That was my goal a year ago when I was doing rehab. I still think that I have chances to play with these top players. I'm feeling that since the end of last year. I got more confidence. This last week also helped me to believe in myself. So I’m still really enjoying this moment, this practice, training. Training not so much, but I still do (smiling).”
Kei Nishikori says he had a moment last year where he thought he might give up, ‘If I need to have another surgery, mentally, I won’t be able to fight anymore’
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 12, 2025
“I followed the number of injuries you've had over the years. It seems as though every time you're trying to make a… pic.twitter.com/SFDeZlo7DM
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