Kei Nishikori concludes final Grand Slam appearance at US Open

Former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori has concluded his final Grand Slam appearance at the US Open. Competing in the men's singles qualifying third round, Nishikori lost to Rei Sakamoto with a score of 4-6, 6-7, failing to reach the main draw.

Following the match, Nishikori praised Sakamoto as the next generation of Japanese tennis, expressing a sense of closure. Social media reactions to his performance were emotional, with fans describing the match as a dramatic end to a legendary career.

Masaaki Morita, former president of the Japan Tennis Association and founder of the Masaaki Morita Tennis Fund, reflected on Nishikori's journey. Nishikori, a recipient of the fund's support since age 13, was sent to the IMG Academy to build a foundation through rigorous training. Morita described Nishikori as a “rocket” that has already taken flight, noting that his role was merely the launchpad.

Nishikori is scheduled to compete in his final professional tournament at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open in Tokyo, starting September 30.