Nishikori reaches final in first tournament since October 2021 with Challenger run

After pushing back his comeback multiple times, Kei Nishikori is back on the courts and he's looking good making his way to the final of the Puerto Rico Challenger.

Kei Nishikori planned to come back much earlier this year than he ultimately did. Delray Beach was the first target but eventually, the Japanese player pushed back the comeback multiple times in order to give himself time to get ready properly. It proved a really good decision as he stormed past the opposition at the Puerto Rico Challenger that he was playing.

The 33-year-old cruised past his Brazilian opponent in straight sets to book the final. It's the first final he'll contest since 2021 and he'll face a much less experienced player in the final. Nishikori has a really good chance to win the trophy, his first in many years as his last come came in 2018 though that was an ATP main Tour one in Brisbane.

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It's a great run of events for Nishikori who underwent hip surgery to fix issues that bothered him for a very long time. Despite not being the youngest any more and despite top tennis likely behind him, Nishikori wanted to make a comeback in order to retire from the game on his own terms - standing up.

The level he's shown this week indicates that there is some good tennis left there so perhaps he'll make a bigger impression on the Tour than initially anticipated. Time will tell though the most important thing for Nishikori would be to win this trophy first and then go from there. There are plenty of big events left this year including his home event in Japan.

Playing there once more is certainly the dream for Nishikori but he'll have to be careful not to push his body too much too soon.

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