‘I usually get deeply depressed’ reveals former ATP Slam finalist on injury struggles
Injuries bring about some of the toughest moments in the career of a professional athlete, with this ATP mainstay revealing as much.
Kei Nishikori has had a thoroughly impressive career that is hopefully far from over.
The Japanese star has reached at least the quarter-finals of every Slam event, and has reached the semi-finals of the US Open three times, one of those times going on to the final, in 2014.
That feat made him the first male player representing an Asian country to reach a Major final, doing so under the coaching guidance of the only Asian male player to claim a Slam, American Michael Chang.
Nishikori achieved a career-high of number four in the ATP rankings in March 2015 and has reached 26 finals at ATP events.
Four of those finals have been at Masters 1000 level, and the 31-year-old can boast 12 titles to his name.
However, later in his career in particular, Nishikori has contended with numerous injuries, especially to his wrist and elbow, experiences he often finds very difficult.
“I’ve never wanted to stop playing though I’m always feeling like it’s tough,” Nishikori told News Zero of Japan.
“Yeah I often feel it’s tough. I’m not in the mood, I hate it, but I’ve somehow been escaping [retirement].
“With injuries I usually get deeply depressed for a while, at the moment that I get injured or I’m told about surgery.
“But after that I somehow come back because I still have motivation and passion for playing tennis again.”
Nishikori competed at his home Olympics this summer in Tokyo, and currently sits at 47th in the ATP rankings.
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