Tennis player Kei Nishikori spoke to WOWOW in an interview, looking back on the 2025 season and his aspirations for the 2026 season. Nishikori returned to competitive play for the first time in about three months at the Yokohama Keio Challenger in November. He played three matches and finished his 2025 season in the quarterfinals. The Australian Open begins next month on January 18th, and Nishikori, currently ranked 156th in the world, is likely to compete from the qualifying rounds.
-You participated in the Yokohama Keio Challenger at the end of the season. How is your physical condition now?
It's not bad now, but I'm still fighting the pain. I'm practicing and training hard, so I hope to be better in time for the Australian Open.
-How do you feel now that the 2025 season is over?
I got off to a good start in January (ATP250) in Hong Kong, making it to the final, but I haven't played many matches since then, so my memory is hazy. The only match I remember is the match against Khachanov in Geneva (ATP250) in May. In that match, I felt like I was having fun and that no matter what I hit, it was going in. Then I hurt my lower back, which was quite painful. I had finally felt like my inner feelings and tennis were returning, so having to withdraw was a battle within myself.
--When you're in good shape, do you tend to overwork yourself, which can lead to injury?
It happens often. It's times like that that make your body move even harder and make unnatural movements, so you have to be careful not to get carried away. It's happened to me a few times in my tennis career.
-How were you feeling when you came second in Hong Kong in January?
Of course, I'm happy, but I tried not to think of it as beating a player in the top 20 or 30. The court was incredibly fast and the tournament was irregular, so I didn't feel particularly confident, but I do appreciate the fact that I was able to fight all the way to the final.
-You beat Montero at the Australian Open in January, but how did you feel about the five-set match?
That match was tough too (laughs). After Hong Kong, I was feeling the strain on my body, so I was trying to recover as much as possible. I played well, but I was overwhelmed by Montero's powerful tennis, especially his forehand. I think I'm the type of person to turn things around from a position like that (where I was down two sets). I was slow to get into the rhythm at first, but I ended up winning, so I think I was able to play my own match for the first time in a while.
-Do you also want to win in straight sets rather than in a full set?
Of course, it would be best if I could win in straight sets. It's inevitable that you'll let your guard down, and it's a sport where you have an opponent, so I don't think the outcome is determined by your own condition alone. I prepare in advance so that even if I get to the final set, I can quickly change my mindset without getting discouraged. Whether I can fight to the end depends on my mental state, so I try to stay focused. When a match drags on, I often feel anxious about my body during the match.
-What was your impression of Fonseca, who was 18 years old when you played against him in Arizona (ATP Challenger) in March?
His ball is fast and heavy. He also has a good angle, so I think he's a player who plays well. He's incredibly powerful and has a pretty good serve, so I think he's a symbol of today's young tennis players. If he could just reduce his mistakes a little more, I think he could easily get into the top 10, or even the top 5, and I think he has the personality to reach the top.
--When you were 18 years old, Nadal told you, "Kei will be in the top 10 in the future!" Now you're in the opposite position. How do you feel about that?
(Fonseca) threw balls with speeds I've never faced before, so I couldn't let my guard down during the rallies. Any ball that was even slightly soft would be hit back, so I was under constant pressure. I think that kind of strength is something only a young player can have. I'm sure Fonseca will improve. And I think Tien will do well if he can serve a little stronger.
-When you withdrew midway through the Geneva vote in May, were you worried about being out for a long time?
I knew I would be out for a long time. Since the beginning of the season, I've been experiencing pain in all parts of my lower back, although in different locations. It hurt just to walk, so I thought I'd be out for quite a while. In the first half of the year, I had pain in the upper part of my lower back. From there, the pain gradually moved lower down, and it felt like it had reached my bones.
Q: Did you take part in the Cincinnati (ATP 1000 Masters in August) because you felt it was important to return to practice despite concerns about injury?
In Cincinnati, I was able to do set-style practice and didn't feel much pain. I was feeling pretty good so I competed, but sure enough, the pain started to show. After that, I didn't think about the future in particular, and just focused on treatment, training, and doing what I could one day at a time.
-What kind of image do you have for next season?
First of all, I want to heal my injury and play as many matches as possible. I'm not able to play as many matches as I used to. I'd like to monitor my physical condition and consult with my doctor, and get back to my normal tennis form in the tournaments I can play and achieve good results.
--You will be competing in the 2026 Australian Open through the qualifying rounds. How do you feel about that?
I've never been able to play in a Grand Slam qualifying tournament until now, partly due to luck with timing and other factors, so it feels a bit strange. First of all, I want to play as many matches as possible. The most important thing is to win as many matches as possible and gain confidence. I've had good results in Melbourne in the past and it's a tournament I like, so I want to play good tennis.
-Do you ever get inspired by players of your generation or older?
I'm happy to see him doing well. The same goes for Cilic, Goffin, and Raonic. I respect Wawrinka. He doesn't get injured very often, so he's different from me, but I still think it's amazing that he can compete at that level at that age. Wawrinka is so cool.
-You often watch the matches between Sinner and Alcaraz. What do you think about them?
It's simply fun to watch. They give you the feeling that you're watching a Federer match, wondering what kind of shots they'll make. There are other strong players like Fritz and Draper, but I think those two are the ones who get you excited. Their timing is fast, and the trajectory and accuracy of their shots are amazing.
-Is there anything about Sinner's tennis that overlaps with your own?
I think Sinner is particularly fast at developing his game. That being said, I don't think there's any other player in the world who can imitate him. He has his own unique speed (such as the timing of his advances), and now he's trying to add variety to his play, so I think he's getting stronger and stronger.
--You've said that if your body can move forward, you'd like to continue playing tennis until you're 40, but how far do you envision your tennis career going?
I was joking about playing until I'm 40 (laughs). Of course, I love tennis, so if my body can handle it, I would like to play forever. However, that's not going to be easy, so I think it's going to be a battle with my body. I guess I'll just have to see how it goes.
-How do you feel about the Australian Open qualifiers?
It's been a while since my last Grand Slam, and the weather at the Australian Open is great, so I'd like to play well. When I'm on a big stage, I might suddenly switch on my own, so I'd like to take a chance on that.
*The Australian Open Tennis Tournament (January 18th - February 1st) will be broadcast live every day on WOWOW Live. WOWOW On Demand will stream live coverage of all courts.
