Kei Nishikori withdrew from the Miami Open a couple of hours before his first-round duel against fellow Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka. World no. 64 cited fatigue as the reason for his withdrawal from the season’s second Masters 1000 event.
The Japanese will rest and start preparing for the upcoming clay swing. His next tournament should be the ATP 250 event in Houston. Kei is the 2016 Miami Open finalist, losing the title clash to Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
GIMME A MINUTE???
Ik Globo airs Joao Fonseca’s matches, but I just remembered from @Gill_Gross‘ recent shoutout that WOWOW also airs Kei Nishikori’s matches.
And here we are. Add TC to the mix. Viewership stonks 📈
🎥 @ATPChallenger via TC Int’lpic.twitter.com/5U4rmML1e2
— stateofsport21 // raz (she/her) (@eretzsport022) March 15, 2025
The 35-year-old is 7-6 on the ATP Tour in 2025. However, he has won only three matches after reaching the final in Hong Kong in the opening week of the season. Nishikori played well and ousted Denis Shapovalov, Karen Khachanov, Cameron Norrie and Yuncheng Shang.
Nishikori chased his fifth ATP title against Alexandre Muller and experienced a 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeat. Kei faced Thiago Monteiro in the first round of the Australian Open and turned the tables again in his career, overcoming two sets to love deficit for a notable triumph.
Kei Nishikori & Joao Fonseca, Phoenix Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
He fell to Tommy Paul in the next round, claiming the opener before losing ground. The veteran claimed one singles victory for Japan over Great Britain in the Davis Cup. However, he left Dallas and Delray Beach with no success.
The Japanese lost to Ugo Humbert in the Indian Wells second round and stepped down to compete at the Challenger level. He reached the semi-final in Phoenix and lost to the eventual champion Joao Fonseca in straight sets.
Kei headed to Miami but decided to make a late-minute withdrawal and preserve his body.
Tennis World USA