Kei Nishikori: ‘I’m too talented to give up on my career’
Kei Nishikori says he respects his own talent to allow injury to end his career, and he has been inspired by Roger Federer to keep playing.
Nishikori has had a torrid time in the last few years with a persistent elbow injury causing him to miss a lot of tennis.
Just as he got over that, he was struck by a hip problem that saw him miss the entire 2022 season.
However, despite nearing his 33rd birthday, Nishikori is finding fresh inspiration to fight for his career, and a meeting with Roger Federer at a UNIQLO event helped focus his mind.
Speaking to Asahi Sports, Kei Nishikori said: “I casually mentioned that I thought about retirement, but afterwards I realized it would go into headlines, I was like, oops, I blew it.
“It was honest feeling, so I might not be able to hide it, or I might express it to wash away my gloomy feeling, I don’t know.
“I’ve made much effort and it’s a shame to bring it to naught due to injury. I’m not sure if this is the right way to say it, but I feel like I’m kinda talented and I have reached the position that not so many people can reach, that makes me feel like it’s too good to give up.
“If my career-high ranking were 100, I might not have thought like that, and it would be disappointing to end my career due to injury.
“Federer played tennis until 40, so I think I can keep playing five more years at the least and seven more years at the most.”
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