Nishikori bows out of tennis in Tokyo as home crowd and peers salute trailblazer

[p]The 36-year-old was the first Asian man ‌to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the ‌2014 US Open and the second after Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan to make ‌it into the top 10.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/nishikori-k-YNkOjUIB/tiafoe-f-AHDLJaph/?mid=j3oaqNc6"]After bowing out at the tournament[/a] ‌he won in 2012 and 2014, [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nishikori-kei/YNkOjUIB/"]Nishikori[/a][/b] soaked up applause from fans at the Ariake Coliseum as organisers honoured his two-decade career with a ‌video tribute featuring messages from top players including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]⁠Novak Djokovic[/a].[/p][p]"We had some great ‌battles at the Grand Slams and other tournaments all over the world," ​24-time Grand Slam champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Djokovic[/a] said.[/p][p][b]"Your resilience and your fighting spirit to always come back after all the ​adversity you had with your body, injuries, and everything that you faced is really commendable and admirable.[/b][/p][p][b]"I'm really glad you're ending ⁠your career in your ​town, in your country, in front of your people. You're definitely going to get the farewell and applause that you absolutely deserve. All the very best in retirement, Kei."[/b][/p][embed guid="36f48ad5-fda6-4606-bd23-9201cfbf27ca" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2105561188063232361" social-type="twitter" /][p]Seven-time Grand Slam champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos ‌Alcaraz[/a] said he considered himself a fan, while others like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dimitrov-grigor/SQgEEKh4/"]Grigor Dimitrov[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-minaur-alex/EZgZ9Xfh/"]Alex de Minaur[/a] and Andy Murray heaped praise on his two-handed backhand.[/p][p]The Shimane-born Nishikori reached his career-high ranking of four in 2015 and claimed 12 titles on the ATP Tour, but has been hampered by injuries for years and has slipped to 436 in the world.[/p][p]Former world number three and twice Grand Slam runner-up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsitsipas-stefanos/hb6oWfc6/"]Stefanos Tsitsipas[/a] of Greece led the tributes on ‌social media, thanking Nishikori for his hard work and aggressive, counter-punching ​playing style in a memorable professional career.[/p][p][b]"Beyond your remarkable ‌achievements, you captivated audiences everywhere with your one-of-a-kind playing style, bringing immense pride and emotion to people across Japan," [/b]Tsitsipas wrote in Japanese on X.[/p][p]"I've always loved watching your matches, and it saddens me that I won't get to see ⁠you on tour anymore. I'll ⁠keep cheering you on ‌in whatever you do next."[/p][embed guid="217a4f6d-0459-44f9-94aa-268a1714871b" url="https://x.com/stefanos/status/2105559405383324008" social-type="twitter" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/tokyo/"]Follow the Japan Open with Flashscore here.[/a][/b][/p]