Nishikori Kei: Davis Cup Withdrawal – Back Injury Update

Nishikori Kei
Photo By Sponichi



On the 8th, the Japan Tennis Association announced that former world ranking fourth and currently 73rd place Nishikori Kei (35, Uniqlo), will miss the second round of the men’s national match against Davis Cup, Japan-Germany, to be held at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo on September 12th and 13th, and the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, which will be held at the same venue from September 24th to 30th.


Nishikori, who advanced to the second round of the Australian Open in January, has suffered from injury to his waist and right shoulder since March, and has missed the French Open and Wimbledon Championships. Although he made his first return to the Cincinnati Open in early August for the first time in three months, his lower back condition has since recurred and he has missed the US Open.

Through the association, Nishikori commented, “Unfortunately, my back is not in good condition, and I have decided to miss both the Davis Cup and the Kinoshita Group Japan Open in Tokyo. Both tournaments are special for me, and it’s a shame that I can’t show tennis in front of you. I would like to continue making adjustments so that I can return to the future tour tournaments and show my tennis again.”

Sakamoto Rei (19, IMG) was selected to replace Nishikori as the Japanese national team for the Davis Cup.

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James Whitfield

James Whitfield is Archysport's racket sports and golf specialist, bringing a global perspective to tennis, badminton, and golf coverage. Based between London and Singapore, James has covered Grand Slam tournaments, BWF World Tour events, and major golf championships on five continents. His reporting combines on-the-ground access with deep knowledge of the technical and strategic elements that separate elite athletes from the rest of the field. James is fluent in English, French, and Mandarin, giving him unique access to athletes across the global tennis and badminton circuits.

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