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With his return date still uncertain, Kei Nishikori has decided to withdraw from the Brisbane International during the opening week of the new season.

An unfortunate news broke out 10 days before the new season, with top Japanese player Kei Nishikori being forced to announce his withdrawal from the Brisbane International due to his ongoing wrist injury which required a surgery this year.

Nishikori’s struggles
2017 has been a year to forget for Nishikori, after all his issues with his health. Starting the year inside the top-five, the Japanese tore his wrist tendon before ending his season in August for a surgery. He finished the year ranked 22, his lowest ranking since March 2014.

Health has always been one of Nishikori’s toughest opponents, having been forced to either retire or withdraw from a match on 25 different occasions throughout his storied career.

Appearance in Brisbane seemed possible
For the past month, there has always been a question mark revolving Nishikori’s form. He was part of an exhibition in Tokyo, Japan in November, but was unable to participate in any rallies as he was still undergoing rehabilitation, and his wrist still had issues.

Only recently, Nishikori was seen practicing on the court, which was a good sign for all his fans. Furthermore, he entered events in the opening two weeks of the year in the lead-up to the Australian Open, and it looked like he was ready to go.

Official statement
However, Nishikori wanted to ensure that he is at 100 percent before coming back to compete professionally. For the past six years in succession, the Japanese started the year at the Brisbane International and has been an active participant. He looked on course to make his seventh consecutive appearance but had to announce his withdrawal yesterday.

“I am so disappointed to miss Brisbane this year. For years it’s been my first tournament of the season and I always feel so at home there. I really look forward to coming back to Brisbane in the future,” Nishikori’s words as quoted by the official Twitter page of the tournament. With his withdrawal, Steve Darcis would take his place in the main draw. As per Jose Morgado, Nishikori is defending finalist points (150), and this would certainly mean that he would be seeded outside the top-24 in Melbourne if he decides to participate.

Kei Nishikori wciąż nie jest gotowy do gry po kontuzji nadgarstka. Japończyk nie wystąpi w Brisbane, gdzie w 2017 roku doszedł do finału.
Łukasz Iwanek
Łukasz Iwanek
22 Grudnia 2017, 18:41
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Getty Images / Minas Panagiotakis / Na zdjęciu: Kei Nishikori

Nick Kyrgios konsekwentny w swoim postanowieniu. Australijczyk nie chce mieć trenera
Kei Nishikori od połowy sierpnia zmaga się z kontuzją nadgarstka. Ostatni start zanotował w Montrealu, gdzie w II rundzie przegrał z Gael Monfils. Japończyk poddał się rehabilitacji i miał nadzieję, że wróci na start sezonu 2018. Tak się jednak nie stanie. Zabraknie go w Brisbane, gdzie w 2017 roku osiągnął finał.
- Jestem bardzo rozczarowany, że muszę opuścić turniej w Brisbane. Od lat to dla mnie pierwszy start w sezonie. Nie mogę doczekać się powrotu do Brisbane w przyszłości - poinformował finalista US Open 2014.

Japończyk w Brisbane do tej pory wystąpił osiem razy. W 2017 roku doszedł do finału, w którym przegrał z Grigorem Dimitrowem.

W marcu Nishikori był notowany na czwartym miejscu w rankingu. Aktualnie znajduje się na 22. pozycji. Po raz pierwszy od sześciu lat sezon zakończył bez wywalczonego tytułu.

Kei Nishikori ogłosił, że nie weźmie udziału w rozpoczynającym się 15 stycznia wielkoszlemowym Australian Open 2018. Japończyk nie jest jeszcze w 100 proc. przygotowany do rywalizacji na zawodowych kortach.

Novak Djoković poleci do Melbourne. Po pokazówkach podejmie decyzję w sprawie Australian Open
- Jestem bardzo smutny, że muszę ogłosić, iż nie zagram w tym roku w Australian Open. To mój ulubiony Szlem, "domowy" Szlem. To turniej wielkoszlemowy, który niesamowicie dba o tenisistów i ich sztaby szkoleniowe, dlatego bardzo mnie boli to, że będę musiał go w tym roku opuścić - poinformował Kei Nishikori, który w Australian Open osiągał fazę ćwierćfinałową w 2012, 2015 i 2016 roku.
Japończyk nie grał w tenisa od turnieju w Montrealu. Kontuzji prawego nadgarstka doznał podczas sesji treningowej w Cincinnati i w jej wyniku musiał zrezygnować ze startu w US Open 2017. - Rehabilitacja przebiega dobrze, ale nie jestem jeszcze w 100 proc. przygotowany, aby rozgrywać mecze w formule do trzech wygranych setów. Życzę Craigowi [Tileyowi, dyrektorowi Australian Open - przyp. red.] i jego całemu zespołowi w Melbourne fantastycznej imprezy. Nie mogę się doczekać, aby zobaczyć ich wszystkich w 2019 roku - dodał reprezentant Kraju Kwitnącej Wiśni.

Notowany obecnie na 22. miejscu w rankingu ATP Nishikori nie weźmie udziału w Australian Open 2018, ale chce wystąpić w rozpoczynającym się 22 stycznia dużym challengerze w Newport Beach w Kalifornii. Potem ma zaprezentować się jeszcze w zawodach tej rangi w Dallas. Jego miejsce w głównej drabince turnieju wielkoszlemowego w Melbourne zajął Brazylijczyk Rogerio Dutra Silva. Wcześniej z Australian Open 2018 wycofał się zmagający z urazem łokcia Belg Steve Darcis, a skorzystał na tym Austriak Gerald Melzer.

Japanese star is currently No. 22 in ATP Rankings

Kei Nishikori will return to professional tennis in January, but not at the season's first Grand Slam in Melbourne.

Nishikori has withdrawn from the Australian Open, but the former World No. 4 is planning on launching his comeback at the inaugural ATP Challenger Tour event at the Newport Beach Tennis Club in Newport Beach, U.S.A, to be held 20-28 January.

The tournament is part of the inaugural Oracle Challenger Series, which also will include a Challenger event from 24 February – 4 March in Indian Wells, in the lead up to the BNP Paribas Open, the season's first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament. Both tournaments will feature $150,000 prize money.

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“I am very excited and looking forward to getting back on the court in January,” Nishikori said. “The Oracle Challenger Series is a perfect event in a great Southern California location to help me get some match play. This will be a great opportunity to face some high-level competition.”

The 28-year-old Nishikori also plans to compete at the $125,000 Challenger in Dallas, U.S.A. The RBC Tennis Championships of Dallas will take place from 29 January – 4 February.

Nishikori, 28, hasn't played since 9 August, when he fell to Gael Monfils at the Coupe Rogers in Montreal. The Japanese star had to cut short his 2017 season because of an injury to his right wrist. He is currently No. 22 in the ATP Rankings.

Japanese star continues comeback at ATP Challenger Tour event in Dallas

The comeback continues! Kei Nishikori looks to build momentum in his return to professional tennis at this week's RBC Tennis Championships of Dallas, a $125,000 event on the ATP Challenger Tour.

The Japanese star, who just 10 months ago ascended to a career-high World No. 4 in the ATP Rankings, claimed his first victory of the year on Monday, in his return from injury. It was deja vu for Nishikori, who drew American Dennis Novikov as his first-round opponent in Dallas. Novikov prevailed in the top seed's comeback debut last week in Newport Beach, California. This time, however, the 28-year-old turned in a vintage Nishikori performance for a 6-3, 6-3 victory under the lights at the T Bar M Racquet Club.

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He next awaits either Germany's Matthias Bachinger or a qualifier in the second round. Big-hitting #NextGenATP Reilly Opelka looms large as potential quarter-final opponent, with fourth seed Bjorn Fratangelo also in his half of the draw.

Want to catch Nishikori throughout the week in Dallas? We've got you covered. You can watch every moment with our free live streaming of the ATP Challenger Tour on ATPChallengerTour.com.

Coaches Michael Chang and Dante Bottini lay out their hopes for Nishikori
If Kei Nishikori wishes to return to the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings, only hard work on- and off-the-court will satisfy his coaches Michael Chang and Dante Bottini.

Last week, in his return to competitive play for the first time in five months, Nishikori lost to Dennis Novikov on the ATP Challenger Tour in Newport Beach, but there are already signs of progress. The Japanese star has bounced back this week in Dallas, returning to the Challenger circuit to exact immediate revenge on Novikov, and now finds himself in the quarter-finals after a three-set win over Matthias Bachinger.


Chang and Bottini, who both coach Nishikori, shared their thoughts with ATPWorldTour.com on the return of the 2014 US Open finalist. “I think he has been getting better every day,” said Chang. “It was a good test for him to play Dennis (Novikov), losing to him in Newport Beach and then coming to play him first round here [in Dallas], where you saw a much different result. He hasn’t played matches now in five months, so it’s nice to be out there and get used to the crowd, the atmosphere and get matches under his belt.”

“His [first round] was much better than last week [in Newport Beach],” added Bottini. “I saw him with a little more confidence, thinking better. Every week he has been improving in practice. I am happy to see him back on the court, with good spirit, winning.”

After hours of practice sets in recent weeks, former World No. 2 Chang and Bottini were clear in their assessment of what Nishikori needed moving forwards. Competing for the first time since the Rogers Cup in August 2017, the 11-time tour-level titlist needs time, in tournament play, to sharpen his abilities.

“He needs more matches,” said Bottini. “That is why we are here playing Challengers. We have been practising a lot the past couple of months and now what he needs are matches and point situations, being in certain scenarios during matches.

“[He needs] to get back to match toughness,” assessed Chang. “He has been getting more and more comfortable with that and improving little by little.”

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Chang remains the youngest ever Grand Slam champion after winning Roland Garros in 1989 at the age of 17, and with his experience on the tour, knows the hard work that needs to be done by his charge to return to the top level.

“We take it in stages, telling him to keep a proper perspective and to continue to keep working. As he continues to work hard, to put the effort into his practices, his practice matches and his main matches, he is just going to keep getting better,” said Chang.

Both coaches were cautious of setting goals so early into the latest comeback of the Japanese star, who has struggled with injuries in recent years. A strong emphasis on work rate and health from both men has been placed above results and his position in the ATP Rankings.

“I think [the main goal is] for him to be able to go out there and play the way he wants to play, the way that got him to beat the best players in the world, the way that got him to No. 4 in the ATP Rankings. That is important. I’m not so concerned about the winning and losing at this point. My goal is, every day, for him to put forth 100 per cent effort and we’ll take it from there,” said Chang.

[The aim is] just to stay healthy and play as many matches as he can,” explained Bottini. “That is going to help him reach the level that we want and that he had the last couple of years. No worries about ranking, or setting goals. Just go match by match, day-by-day and stay healthy and I think that the results are going to come along.

With the inaugural New York Open marked as Nishikori’s ATP World Tour return event, Chang hopes that Nishikori can ‘work out the cobwebs’ in his game in Dallas, to put himself in the best possible position to start the process of rediscovering his best form.

“I hope by the time he reaches New York, he’ll be completely in the mindset, match tough and ready to go and start his year on the ATP World Tour,” said Chang.

Kei Nishikori z powodu kontuzji nadgarstka stracił drugą połowę zeszłego sezonu i nie zdecydował się na występ w Australian Open 2018. Japończyk postanowił zagrać w challengerach. W sobotę udało mu się wygrać zawody tej rangi w Dallas.
Reprezentant Kraju Kwitnącej Wiśni ma powody do zadowolenia. W zeszłym tygodniu przegrał z Dennisem Novikovem już w I rundzie imprezy w Newport Beach w Kalifornii, ale w Dallas przyszedł czas na wielki rewanż. Japończyk pokonał Amerykanina 6:3, 6:3. Potem stracił tylko seta w pojedynku z Niemcem Matthiasem Bachingerem, zanim sięgnął po tytuł.
W sobotnim finale Kei Nishikori skrzyżował rakiety z Mackenzie'em McDonaldem i pewnie zwyciężył Amerykanina 6:1, 6:4. Dzięki temu zdobył 100 punktów do rankingu ATP, ale mimo tego pozostanie 27. rakietą świata. Po meczu finalista US Open 2014 przyznał, że występ w Dallas wiele dla niego znaczy w kontekście budowania formy na najbliższe miesiące.
- Zagrałem te challengery, aby zdobyć praktykę meczową i jestem bardzo szczęśliwy z wykonanego postępu. Czuję się dobrze. Szczególnie ten tydzień był bardzo ważny i dodał mi sporo pewności - napisał na Twitterze Nishikori. Japończyk wygrał pierwszy turniej rangi ATP Challenger Tour od 2010 roku. Teraz powróci do głównego cyklu i wystąpi kolejno w Nowym Jorku i Acapulco. - Mam nadzieję, że zaprezentuję tam dobry tenis - powiedział dziennikarzom.

Former World No. 4 drops one set all week to prevail at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Dallas, Texas
Mission accomplished! He sat on the sidelines for nearly six months with a wrist injury, but now Kei Nishikori has returned to the winners' circle.

The Japanese star, who ascended to a career-high No. 4 in the ATP Rankings less than a year ago, is back with a vengeance after claiming the title at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Dallas. Nishikori defeated American Mackenzie McDonald 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday evening at the RBC Tennis Championships of Dallas, securing his first title at any level in exactly two years (Memphis 2016).


It was Nishikori's sixth victory on the Challenger circuit and first since 2010. Seeking to rediscover his rhythm and find confidence in his return to the court, the 28-year-old competed in a pair of Challenger events to kick off his comeback. Following a first-round defeat in Newport Beach, California, he gradually improved as the week moved along in Dallas, culminating with his best performance of the tournament on Saturday.

Nishikori needed just one hour and 20 minutes to dismiss McDonald, turning aside all four break points faced. The World No. 27 will look to continue his climb back to the Top 10 at the inaugural ATP World Tour 250 event in New York and the 500-level tournament in Acapulco.

McDonald, meanwhile, is in the midst of an impressive stretch to open his 2018 campaign. The 22-year-old, who pushed World No. 4 Grigor Dimitrov to five sets at the Australian Open, reeled off wins over second seed Frances Tiafoe, former champion Tim Smyczek and an equally in-form Denis Kudla to reach the final. The former UCLA standout is projected to crack the Top 150 of the ATP Rankings for the first time in his career.

Kei Nishikori rozegrał we wtorek pierwszy w 2018 roku pojedynek w głównym cyklu i awansował do II rundy halowego turnieju ATP World Tour 250 na kortach twardych w Nowym Jorku. Porażki doznał Steve Johnson, który nie wykorzystał pięciu meczboli.

ATP Rotterdam: Stan Wawrinka przegrał z 259. tenisistą świata. Pewny awans Davida Goffina
Z powodu kontuzji nadgarstka Kei Nishikori stracił drugą część sezonu 2017 i nie wystartował w wielkoszlemowym Australian Open 2018. Aby odbudować formę, zdecydował się zagrać w dwóch challengerach i okazał się najlepszy w Dallas. Teraz Japończyk zaliczył udany powrót do głównego cyklu. We wtorek w meczu I rundy zawodów New York Open pokonał Amerykanina Noaha Rubina 7:5, 6:3.

- Noah zaczął bardzo agresywnie i świetnie serwował. W pierwszym secie grał nieco lepiej ode mnie. Z kolei w drugiej partii to ja prezentowałem się lepiej i byłem bardziej agresywny - stwierdził rozstawiony z piątym numerem reprezentant Kraju Kwitnącej Wiśni. Już w środę na jego drodze do ćwierćfinału stanie Rosjanin Jewgienij Donskoj, który w dwóch setach zwyciężył doświadczonego Victora Estrellę z Dominikany.

Z imprezą szybko pożegnał się oznaczony "siódemką" Steve Johnson. Amerykanin w trzecim secie pojedynku z Adrianem Menendezem nie wykorzystał prowadzenia 5:2 oraz pięciu piłek meczowych. Hiszpan obronił dwie w dziewiątym gemie i trzy w tie breaku. Po dwóch godzinach i 12 minutach zwyciężył ostatecznie 1:6, 6:3, 7:6(7), dzięki czemu w środę skrzyżuje rakiety z Francuzem Jeremym Chardym.

Pierwszych rywali poznali we wtorek tenisiści, którzy w I rundzie otrzymali wolny los. Przeciwnikiem najwyżej rozstawionego Kevina Andersona z RPA będzie Amerykanin Ernesto Escobedo. Grający z "dwójką" Sam Querrey zmierzy się z doświadczonym Rosjaninem Michaiłem Jużnym. Oznaczony "trójką" John Isner spotka się z Mołdawianinem Radu Albotem. Z kolei rywalem turniejowej "czwórki", Francuza Adriana Mannarino, został Niemiec Peter Gojowczyk.

Fifth seed will face Albot in QF

Kei Nishikori is looking more and more like his former self. Nishikori, the former World No. 4 who's on the comeback from right-wrist surgery last year, advanced to the New York Open quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The fifth seed needed only 65 minutes to get past Russian Evgeny Donskoy 6-2, 6-4. The Japanese star won 84 per cent of his service points (37/44), including a higher percentage on his second serve (17/20, 85%) than his first (20/24, 83%).

“I served really well, especially in the second set. I started getting my rhythm back and my first serve was working really well but also everything else was pretty solid today. I was playing aggressive and coming in,” Nishikori said. “Every match is improving. So far so good. I think today was one of the best again.”

Almost exactly a year ago, Donskoy shocked Roger Federer at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, handing the Swiss his first loss of 2017. But Nishikori avoided a stunner and will next face Moldova's Radu Albot, who upset home favourite and third seed John Isner 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3.

Spoiler alert: Isner's serve was spot on – the American hit 28 aces to just one from Albot. But the 28-year-old from Chisinau seized his lone break point in the decider to reach the quarter-finals on Long Island.

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“Everybody knows that John has the best serve on tour. It's very difficult to return his serve. You just have to guess, be able to somehow put the ball in the court. You just don't know, you just react. If you put the ball in the court then you're in the game and then you try to create something,” Albot said.

Fourth seed Adrian Mannarino secured his second quarter-final of 2018 (Sydney) when German Peter Gojowczyk retired down 7-6(5), 5-7, 1-4. Mannarino is at a career-high No. 25 in the ATP Rankings but the Frenchman is still searching for his maiden ATP World Tour title. He is currently the highest-ranked player without an ATP World Tour crown.

“I was disappointed to lose the first set but I was playing well and I just told myself that I should continue to play this way and see if there's any chance to let him play one or two bad games,” Mannarino said.

The left-hander will next face Spain's Adrian Menendez-Maceiras, who, a day after saving five match points against seventh seed Steve Johnson, made his second-round match look relatively easy. The Spaniard prevailed past Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 7-5, 7-6(5).

Querrey to play Mannarino for a spot in the final

Kei Nishikori did not play a match after the Rogers Cup last August. So the 28-year-old decided to build up his match toughness on the ATP Challenger Tour to begin the new campaign. And it looks like that move paid off.

The Japanese superstar battled past Moldovan Radu Albot to advance to the semi-finals of the New York Open 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Friday evening. Nishikori, who won the Memphis Open four years in a row (2013-2016) before the event moved to Long Island this year, is just two matches away from his claiming his first ATP World Tour title since 2016 Memphis.

"It was a very tough start. I think he was playing very good tennis," Nishikori said. "During the second set I started getting my rhythm back and started playing a little more inside the baseline and everything started working well... [I'm] very happy to win today."

Including his efforts on the ATP Challenger Tour, Nishikori has now won eight matches in a row, dropping his first set during that period against Albot on Friday evening. But after getting broken three times in the opening set, the World No. 27 faced just one break point in the rest of the match to move on to the final four, where he will play top seed Kevin Anderson, who eliminated #NextGenATP American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours, four minutes.

"I really had to scrap at the end," Anderson said. "I felt he almost had a little bit of the edge going to 4-4 [in the third set] and fortunately played a great game at 4-4... it's nice to have served it out."

The South African is pursuing his first title since 2015 Winston-Salem. Anderson advanced to the final at the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune earlier this year (l. to Simon). But he heads into the semi-finals facing a 1-5 deficit in his FedEx ATP Head2Head series against Nishikori.

"It seems like he's hitting the ball pretty well," Anderson said. "He's played quite a few matches over the last few weeks so I'm expecting a tough match as always against one of the best players on the [ATP World] Tour."

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Watch Full Match Replays

Second seed Sam Querrey is showing the fans in New York just why he is at a career-best ATP Ranking of No. 12, eliminating big-serving 38-year-old Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (5), 7-6(4).

“I couldn’t have served much better,” said Querrey, who lost just six points on serve. "I don’t even know if we went to deuce, and I had good rhythm on my serve, and that’s what freed me up a little bit in the tie-breaks.”

It is Querrey’s first semi-final since winning the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Mifel presentado por Cinemex last August. The 30-year-old owns a 17-17 record in tour-level semi-finals. But it will not be easy, as he faces fourth seed Adrian Mannarino, who eliminated first-time tour-level quarter-finalist Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

The Frenchman, the current highest-ranked player without an ATP World Tour title (World No. 25), owns a 3-0 lead in the pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Mannarino has won seven of nine sets against the second seed, including a straight-sets victory against Querrey at the Western & Southern Open last year.

It will be the left-hander’s third semi-final since the beginning of October.

"I’m not really thinking about it right now," Mannarino said of moving to within two matches of his first tour-level trophy. "I’m just happy to be in the semi-finals and we’ll see tomorrow what’s going to happen.”

Did You Know?
Querrey won a higher percentage of second-serve points (11/13, 85 per cent) than Karlovic won first-serve points (42/52, 81 per cent).