By Scoop Malinowski
One of the major stars of the ATP World Tour is trying to survive and extend his wondrous tennis career for as long as possible, like Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, Feli Lopez, Gael Monfils, John Isner, Lleyton Hewitt, Marin Cilic, David Goffin, Fabio Fognini, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal also did – and Novak Djokovic is still doing.
Kei Nishikori is 36 and ranked outside the top 400. It’s an important segment of his career, he needs to prove that he can still compete and win ATP matches to fix his fallen ranking and broken elite status. He also needs to prove this to himself.
Right now the oft injured body looks very healthy and he is playing superb tennis, as demonstrated in his first round victory at the 2026 Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open vs Nicholas Kicker or Argentina by the score of 63 62.
It looked like vintage Kei Nishikori, flying around on the green clay and zipping perfect shots all over the court from his perfect technical foundation base of strokes that has been honed in Japan, Bradenton and all over the world for nearly three decades.
Tonight will be the big test for Nishikori as he faces the top seed of the tournament Yibing Wu of China. A win would prove Kei can still play top 100 tennis. It would also give valuable fuel to his confidence to continue the quest to be a Grand Slam and title contender again instead of being a faded warrior player who only makes people fondly remember his golden days but also wonder when will he retire?
Two days before his match vs Kicker, Nishikori had a 30-45 minute workout with 15 year old Teodor Davidov but it was not full intensity, more of just a basic hit of cross courts, volleys, serves and returns, not high intensity, probably to make sure to preserve his body and save his best for the actual match vs Kicker. Kei’s family – wife and young kids – were there for the practice with Davidov, however I did not see them there present watching the match vs Kicker.
After the win, Nishikori was asked what his motivation is at this point and he answered, “I just play one match at a time. I’m going to try to enjoy every time on the court and just try to do my best.”
Kei has always been an honest player, as worthy as anyone to be awarded the ATP Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship honors. It’s fairly clear that Nishikori has prepared himself for Sarasota Open as well as he possibly could have and is awaiting to learn the truth… if he can still perform at the high standard level he achieved for well over a decade.
This week and next at Tallahassee Open Challenger, where it’s been reported he will play with a wildcard, and then likely the following week at Savannah Challenger, is the moment of truth test month for Nishikori. If he can generate and produce Kei Nishikori caliber tennis again, his career will absolutely march onward and upward. But if he cannot produce enough match wins, he will have to make the decision, maybe the most difficult decision of his illustrious, extraordinary and honorable professional tennis career.
Some interesting Kei Nishikori h2hs: 5-2 vs Raonic. 4-7 vs Stan. 10-4 vs Ferrer. 10-6 vs Cilic.
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Photo by Ray Collins.
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open · Japan · Kei Nishikori · Wilson tennis