Kei Nishikori

Kei Nishikori is a renowned Japanese professional tennis player. He is famous for being the second male Japanese player ranked in the top 5 in singles, following Jiro Sato, and the only one to do so in the Open Era. Notable for winning 6 ATP Tour 500 titles, 6 ATP Tour 250 titles, and reaching the runner-up position at the 2014 US Open, Nishikori is the first man from Asia to qualify for the ATP Finals, reaching the semifinals in 2014 and 2016. Nishikori also holds the record for the highest win percentage in matches extending to five sets, with a remarkable 79.4% (27–7). As of September 18, 2023, he holds the No. 350 ranking in singles, with Max Mirnyi serving as his coach since 2020.

Early Life

Kei Nishikori was born on December 29, 1989. He hails from Matsue, Shimane, Japan. Kei celebrated his 33rd birthday in 2022. Holding Japanese nationality, he is of Asian ethnicity. His family includes his father, Kiyoshi, an engineer, his mother, Eri, a piano teacher, and an older sister named Reina, who works in Tokyo after graduating from college. Nishikori started playing tennis at the age of five and achieved early success by winning the All Japan Tennis Championships for Kids in 2001. 

For his education, Kei graduated from Aomori-Yamada High School and, at the age of 14, relocated to Bradenton, Florida, to join the IMG Academy in 2004. Coached by Brad Gilbert in the past, Nishikori has been under the guidance of Dante Bottini since December 2010, with the addition of former world No. 2 Michael Chang to his coaching team in January 2014.

Career

• Kei Nishikori's tennis journey began in April 2002 at the age of 13 when he played his first junior match at a grade 1 tournament in Japan. 
• As a junior, he achieved notable success, winning the boys' doubles title at the 2006 Junior French Open and attaining a combined world ranking of No. 7 in July 2006. 
• In 2006, Nishikori made his mark on the professional circuit, reaching the quarterfinals at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships and becoming the youngest player to do so since Boris Becker in 1985. 
• In 2008, he secured his first ATP title by winning the Delray Beach tournament, defeating top seed James Blake in the final. 
• Despite facing setbacks like injuries in 2009 that led to withdrawals from Grand Slam events, Nishikori bounced back in 2010, reaching the third round of the US Open after defeating the 11th seed Marin Čilić.
• Nishikori's 2011 season began by upsetting two-time defending champion Marin Čilić in Chennai but faced a quarterfinal defeat to Janko Tipsarević. 
• At the Australian Open, he reached the third round, elevating his ranking to No. 70. 
• Although he experienced early exits in Indian Wells and Miami, he reached the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships final, losing to Ryan Sweeting. 
• Notably, he made a significant impact at the Shanghai Masters, reaching his first Masters 1000 semifinal and achieving a career-high world ranking of No. 30.
• In a remarkable turn at the Swiss Indoors Basel, he defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic but fell to Roger Federer in the final. 
• The triumph earned him entry into the BNP Paribas Masters, where he achieved a world No. 24 ranking. 
• In 2012, Nishikori made history at the Australian Open, becoming the first Japanese male player to reach the quarterfinals in 80 years. 
• The year continued with notable performances, including reaching the quarterfinals at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships and winning his first ATP 500 series title at the Rakuten Japan Open. 
• In 2013, he secured his third ATP title at the U.S. National Indoor Championships and later reached the fourth round of the Australian Open.
• Nishikori's career breakthrough occurred in 2014, highlighted by reaching the US Open final, where he defeated top players like Milos Raonic and Novak Djokovic before falling to Marin Čilić. 
• The year concluded with Nishikori reaching a career-high world No. 5 ranking after a strong showing at the ATP World Tour Finals, where he defeated Andy Murray and David Ferrer but fell to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
• He began the year 2015 by reaching the semifinals of the Brisbane International but fell to Milos Raonic in a tightly contested match.
• Nishikori also reached the doubles finals with partner Alexandr Dolgopolov. 
• At the Australian Open, he equaled his best record by reaching the quarterfinals for the second time, ultimately losing to defending champion Stan Wawrinka. 
• In February, Nishikori secured his eighth singles title at the Memphis Open, becoming the first player to win the tournament three times in a row. 
• He then reached the final of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, earning a career-high world ranking of No. 4.
• The March Masters saw Nishikori reach the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open, but he was upset by Feliciano López. 
• In the Miami Open, he advanced to the quarterfinals but was defeated by John Isner. 
• Nishikori's clay-court season started strong as he won his second consecutive title at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, defeating Pablo Andújar in the final. 
• Despite reaching the semifinals at the Mutua Madrid Open, he faced a setback against Andy Murray, causing his ranking to drop to 6th.
• The French Open saw Nishikori become the first Japanese man in 82 years to reach the quarterfinals, but he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a five-set battle. 
• His grass-court season included a semifinal appearance at the Halle Open and a second-round retirement at Wimbledon due to a calf injury.
• Nishikori rebounded during the hard-court season, winning the Citi Open by defeating John Isner in the final. 
• At the Rogers Cup, he reached the semifinals but lost to Andy Murray.
• Fatigue and a hip injury led to his withdrawal from the Cincinnati Masters, impacting his performance at the US Open, where he lost in the first round to Benoît Paire. 
• The Asian Swing featured Nishikori reaching the semifinals at the Rakuten Japan Open and the third round at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. 
• In his first Year-End ATP Finals, Nishikori progressed to the semifinals but was defeated by Novak Djokovic, concluding the year at a career-high world No. 5 ranking.
• His 2019 season was marked by a triumphant start at the Brisbane International, where he clinched the title by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final, breaking a streak of nine consecutive final losses. 
• His journey at the Australian Open showcased resilience, overcoming a two-set deficit against qualifier Kamil Majchrzak in the first round and staging a remarkable comeback against Pablo Carreño Busta in the fourth round, reaching the quarterfinals where he retired against Novak Djokovic. 
• Nishikori's performances in subsequent tournaments included a semifinal run in Rotterdam, a quarterfinal appearance in Dubai, and a notable showing at Wimbledon, reaching the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. 
• The remainder of the season saw mixed results, with strong performances at the US Open, reaching the third round, and notable quarterfinal exits in events like Barcelona and Rome. 
• In 2020-2021, Nishikori returned to Grand Slam action at the French Open, and in 2021, he achieved a quarterfinal berth at the ATP 500 events in Rotterdam and Dubai. 
• The Olympics brought a significant victory over Andrey Rublev before exiting in the quarterfinals against Novak Djokovic. 
• Nishikori's subsequent participation in Washington saw him reach the semifinals, demonstrating a return to form. 
• His 2022 season was disrupted by hip surgery, and after a prolonged absence, Nishikori made a comeback in June 2023 at the Challenger 75 2023 Caribbean Open, securing the title. 
• He continued his return at the 2023 Atlanta Open, reaching the quarterfinals defeating Juncheng “Jerry” Shang.

Personal Life

Kei Nishikori is a married man. He tied the knot to his longtime girlfriend-turned-wife, Mai Yamauchi in December 2020. The happily married couple is enjoying their present life a lot. Back then, he was romantically linked with former Japanese gymnast Honami Tsuboi. 

Net Worth

Kei Nishikori, a highly successful tennis player, and Japanese Olympic star has amassed significant wealth on the global tennis scene, with an estimated net worth of $24 million as of 2023. Currently earning an annual salary exceeding $10 million, Nishikori has accumulated prize money totaling US $25,102,112 throughout his career. In 2020, he ranked as the sixth highest-paid tennis player globally. His primary source of wealth stems from his lucrative tennis career, enabling him to lead a lavish lifestyle. 

Throughout his tennis career, Kei Nishikori has secured various endorsement deals, notably with the Wilson Burn 95 racket, and later with the Wilson Ultra 95 after discontinuing the Burn line in 2019. Speculation suggests he may have used a customized older Wilson nCode nTour beneath the Steam paint job. Exclusive versions of the Steam racket were sold in Japan, leveraging Nishikori's popularity in his home country. His apparel is provided by Uniqlo, and he wears red Nike Vapor Tour shoes. 

Nishikori's diverse sponsorship portfolio includes brands like Nissin Foods, TAG Heuer, Fast Retailing, LVMH Moët Hennessy, Jaccs Co., Wowow, Air Weave, EA Games, Delta Air Lines, and Japan Airlines. Notably, his image graces a Boeing 777-300ER named "JET-KEI" in collaboration with Japan Airlines. During matches, he is often seen with a Cup Noodles badge on his sleeve. In 2011, he was featured in a commercial for Morinaga & Company's sports drink Weider in Jelly and carries a character named Mr. Saturn from the popular video game Mother/Earthbound.

Residing in a luxurious mansion purchased in 2013, Kei Nishikori now calls a 3,000 sq ft home in Bradenton, Florida, his own, at a cost of $850,000. Expressing a preference for living in the USA over Japan due to enhanced training opportunities, Nishikori enjoys the comfort of driving a Jaguar. Notably, his association with the Jaguar brand goes beyond mere ownership, with a special edition car dedicated to him. While he could afford any car of his choice, the Jaguar aligns well with his taste and lifestyle.

Body Measurements

Kei Nishikori, the accomplished tennis player, is known not only for his athletic prowess but also for his handsome appearance. With a slim build and a height of 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm), he maintains a fit physique, weighing around 75 kg (165 lbs). Complementing his athletic stature, he possesses striking features with black hair and dark brown eyes, contributing to his overall charismatic and healthy demeanor.