*This content was translated by AI.
It was the final chapter for Asia's greatest male tennis star. Kei Nishikori (36, Japan) retired after losing to a 20-year-old junior on his last major stage as an active player.
Japanese media outlet 'Web Sportiva' focused intensely on Nishikori's final moments immediately after the final round of the 2026 US Open men's singles qualifying tournament held in New York, USA, on the 30th.
Nishikori clashed with Shinji Sakamoto (20, ranked 157th), Japan's next-generation leader and widely regarded as his most likely successor, for a spot in the main draw but lost 0-2 (4-6, 6-7) in sets, ending his final Grand Slam challenge.
According to media reports, after the match, Nishikori, seated on the bench, said, "He extinguished the flame of my last candle," adding, "It was far more fortunate and better for me to lose to a fellow player (Sakamoto) than to any other competitor," sincerely congratulating his junior on advancing to the main draw.
Sakamoto, who secured the victory, could not hide his complex emotions either. In a post-match interview, Sakamoto said, "I grew up watching Nishikori compete at the US Open on TV since I was young. He is my hero and idol," expressing deep respect while noting, "Countless Japanese players are following in his footsteps."
In fact, Sakamoto has walked the exact path paved by Nishikori as a top-tier prospect. With support from a fund established by former Sony America executive Masaki Morita Jeon (Chairman), he moved to the IMG Academy in the United States at age 15, where he trained directly alongside Nishikori and received guidance, forging a particularly close bond.
Nishikori claimed his first ATP Tour title faster than Rafa Nadal did at the same age of 18, rising to world No. 4 during his prime and building Asia's highest pinnacle in men's tennis history by reaching the 2014 US Open final. However, following hip surgery in 2022, he suffered from consecutive injuries to his ankle, knee, back, and shoulder, causing his world ranking to plummet outside the top 500. Consequently, in May 2026, he officially announced his retirement after a 20-year career at the end of the 2026 season.
Additionally, past controversies surrounding his personal life stirred public outcry. In June last year, Nishikori faced severe criticism after Japanese media outlet 'Weekly Bunshun' revealed he had maintained an extramarital affair with a former model for two and a half years. The revelation came while he was married to model Ako Mizuki since 2020 and raising two children, making the shock even greater. At the time, Nishikori issued a handwritten apology and bowed his head in remorse.
At the time of his retirement announcement, Nishikori expressed gratitude toward his family while burning his final flame. Although he swept both the first and second rounds of this year's US Open qualifying without dropping a single set, he ultimately passed the main draw ticket and the future of Japanese tennis to Sakamoto, the junior who had grown up admiring him, at the final hurdle.
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*This content was translated by AI.
