Kei Nishikori's brutal luck continues as he announces sad news ahead of new season

12/08/2023 09:20 PM

Kei Nishikori's brutal luck continues as the former world No 4 likely also won't be ready for the Australian Open after missing the last couple of months of the 2023 season. Nishikori, who will be turning 34 on December 29th, was out of action for 20 months before making his long-awaited return in June at a Challenger tournament. After appearing in just four tournaments, Nishikori suffered another injury as the Japanese has been sidelined since late July due to a knee injury. Nishikori ended up missing the US Open - the entire Asian swing - and he also wasn't ready to compete in some Challenger tournaments in Japan in November. When revealing that he will likely be forced to miss the Australian Open, Nishikori also shared that he will focus on playing in some Challenger tournaments in the United States and then go to Indian Wells and Miami in March. "Think I won't be ready in time for the Australian Open. Now my goal is to play Challengers in the US and then to play Indian Wells or Miami," Nishikori told Sports Hochi. 

Kei on skipping the AO "Think I won't be ready in time for the AO. Now my goal is to play Challengers in US and then to play IW or Miami" via @SportsHochi#GoKei

— 井蛙堂 (@seiadoumogera) December 7, 2023

"I want to be back in February or March, I've started seeing light at the end of the tunnel," Nishikori said, via Asahi Sports.

Kei "I want to be back in February or March, I've started seeing light at the end of tunnel" via @asahi#GoKei#silverLining🤞

— 井蛙堂 (@seiadoumogera) December 8, 2023

After being hampered by various injuries and undergoing hip surgery in 2022 January, Nishikori returned by playing three Challengers between June and July. In late July, Nishikori made his ATP Tour return in Atlanta, where he was beaten by Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinal. For Nishikori, losing to Fritz wasn't the worst part as his knee started troubling him in Atlanta. "In June I came back for the first time in a while and played in a few events, started feeling better. Then my knee started getting worse, and here I am. I had to withdraw from all the event, the US Open that I was really looking forward to playing the Japan Open, and Challengers in Japan, that's really painful. This is a matter of my own body, I know I can't make an excuse, but still these days I feel like 'Hey why couldn't you allow me to play matches, it's enough, it's about time," Nishikori said in October.