Tommy paul
Jack draper.
35-year-old Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori contemplated his future in tennis after a dramatic comeback victory in the opening round of the 2025 Australian Open. Nishikori struggled with knee, shoulder, and elbow injuries throughout his career and admitted that one more surgery could be the end of his playing days.
After defeating Thiago Monteiro in a five-set match that lasted over four hours, Nishikori shared his thoughts during the post-match press conference.
"First and second sets, he was on a roll. He almost deserved to win.
Nishioka
But somehow, I fought back," Nishikori said.
"If I have maybe another surgery, I think mentally I won't be able to fight anymore," Nishikori admitted. He described the end of 2023 as the most challenging time in his career and contemplated walking away from the sport he loves.
Nishikori walked into 2023 with a nagging foot injury and having successful left hip surgery at the end of the year prior.
He returned to the game after nearly a two-year layof
