Kei Nishikori opens up on brutal luck with injuries and 'grudge against fragile body'
12/29/2023 10:00 AM
Former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori admits he may have "a grudge against my fragile body" but underlines he is trying to remain positive and not bother himself with something that he can't control.
Nishikori, who is turning 34 on Friday, has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career. Nishikori's injury struggles have gotten worse over the last few years as the 2014 US Open runner-up didn't play any tournaments for nearly two years after undergoing hip surgery in 2022 January.
In 2023 June, Nishikori played his first tournament in 20 months. After competing in just four tournaments, Nishikori sustained a knee injury and he hasn't played since as he seems to be also set to miss the start of 2024.
"In a way I'd not like to accept that my life is full of injuries like this, I may have a grudge against my fragile body. But still think it's a waste of time to resist/get frustrated with what I can't have control over. Trying everything I can, then I just try to make it through," Nishikori told Asahi Sports.
Nishikori may be a surgery away from ending his careerKei "In a way I'd not like to accept that my life is full of injuries like this, I may have a grudge agnst my fragile body. But still think it's a wast of time to resist/get frustrated w/ what I can't have control over. Trying everything I can, then I just try to make it through" pic.twitter.com/SpLeJPbOpR
— 井蛙堂 (@seiadoumogera) December 28, 2023
Just recently, Nishikori admitted that he may be a surgery away from walking away from pro tennis.
"Now I'm feeling like it's twice or three times as hard as it was before I came back. Two months ago, I was completely sure I would retire if I had to have another surgery, like, 'I can't take it anymore,'" Nishikori told Sports Hochi last week.
"Now I feel a bit calm seeing a little daylight and playing tennis. But if I had to have another surgery, I might not be able to hold up.
"Don't want to end my career with injury, but it depends on how I feel... At the same time I wanna keep playing from the bottom of my heart. So it's a battle between my motivation, a limit of my body and my mind."
