Kei Nishikori, a former world No. 4 and the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam singles final, officially ended his professional tennis career this week. His final competitive appearance took place at the Japan Open in Tokyo, where he faced American player Frances Tiafoe.

The match concluded in a 6-4, 6-4 loss for Nishikori. Following the defeat, the atmosphere at the venue was described as emotional, marking the end of a career that saw Nishikori become a significant figure in international tennis and a national icon in Japan. While the match result was a straight-sets victory for Tiafoe, the focus of the event remained on Nishikori’s departure from the sport.

Nishikori’s career was defined by his historic run to the 2014 US Open final and his consistent presence in the top tier of the ATP rankings for over a decade. Despite battling various injuries in the latter stages of his career, he remained a prominent competitor until his final appearance on the court in Tokyo.