WOWOW will broadcast and stream the documentary Kei Nishikori Last Road ~From the Last Grand Slam to the Japan Open~ on November 14, following the tennis star’s professional retirement in October at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open.
Nishikori reached the US Open singles final in 2014 and climbed to a career-high world ranking of fourth in 2015, rewriting Japanese tennis history across a 19-year professional career. Hip surgery, ankle sprains, and recurring injuries forced him off the tour repeatedly, though he mounted numerous comebacks before ending his career at the Tokyo tournament.
The documentary traces Nishikori’s final three months on tour through archival footage and the perspectives of three figures close to his career: former world No. 46 Shuzo Matsuoka, 2024 tour coach Satoshi Iwabuhi, and wheelchair tennis legend Shingo Kunieda.
Shuzo Matsuoka and Satoshi Iwabuchi share behind-the-scenes stories
During the special recording, the trio watched matches and discussed private moments from Nishikori’s final stretch. Iwabuchi, who served as Nishikori’s coach for the last two years of his career, said that little surprised him since they spent most of their time side by side on tour.
“I didn’t really learn anything new because, even though I couldn’t go to the final US Open, we were basically together the whole time,” Iwabuchi told WOWOW.
Matsuoka, who invited a young Nishikori to his Shuzo Challenge junior camp years prior, admitted he gained entirely new insights into the player’s private life. He learned about Nishikori’s habits with video games, his ability to switch between on-court focus and off-court relaxation, and his personal kindness.
“For me, it was full of things I didn’t know,” Matsuoka told WOWOW. “I only ever saw Kei as a competitor.”
Kunieda compares retirement experiences
Kunieda, winner of 50 Grand Slam titles in singles and doubles alongside four Paralympic gold medals, drew parallels between Nishikori’s retirement process and his own departure from the sport. Watching footage of Nishikori after his retirement announcement, Kunieda sensed a release from pressure.
“Watching Kei’s expressions and play after his retirement announcement, I often wondered if he really wanted to retire,” Kunieda told WOWOW. “Conversely, announcing it might have given him a sense of relief.”
Kunieda said that once the announcement was made, every match likely felt like a bonus stage, played without external burdens as the player burned through his final reserves.
The final match against Frances Tiafoe
After the US Open, Nishikori described feeling like a burnt-out candle, but his demeanor shifted as the Japan Open approached. Iwabuchi observed that the veteran grew noticeably more relaxed during early preparations before tightening back into his usual match-day focus against American player Frances Tiafoe.
“Against Frances Tiafoe, he stepped onto the court with a genuine desire to win,” Iwabuchi told WOWOW.
Matsuoka, who provided commentary for the Tiafoe match, saw the competitive fire ignite immediately despite early mistakes. He watched tears fall from Nishikori's eyes after the final point, highlighting a lifelong aversion to losing.
“He called his own drive a broken screw,” Matsuoka told WOWOW. “That is why he made it this far.”
WOWOW broadcasts Nishikori documentary on November 14
The program airs on WOWOW on November 14, offering fans a detailed look at the concluding months of one of Asia’s most successful tennis careers. No further exhibition or tournament appearances are scheduled for Nishikori following his October farewell in Tokyo.
