Kei Nishikori faces Rafael Jodar in one of his final ATP Washington matches
Japanese tennis veteran Kei Nishikori, who announced that the 2026 season will be his final year on the ATP Tour, is set to meet 19‑year‑old Spanish rising star Rafael Jodar in the round of 16 at the ATP 500 Washington tournament. The match, scheduled for the early hours of Wednesday, follows Nishikori's recent comeback win after a year‑long injury‑plagued absence.
Jodar enters the encounter as a heavy betting favorite, listed at –600, after a breakthrough season that included a title in Marrakech and deep runs at the Madrid and Rome Masters as well as a quarter‑final appearance at Roland Garros. Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner‑up and former world No. 4 with 12 ATP titles and 452 career victories, reflected that he is only “50 % happy” with his career, citing missed Grand Slam titles and Masters 1000 crowns while acknowledging his longevity and resilience.
The Washington match pits a seasoned former top‑5 player against a talented newcomer, offering a compelling narrative as Nishikori approaches the twilight of his professional career.
Entities: ATP Washington 500 · Japan · Kei Nishikori · Rafael Jodar · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Nishikori said he is 50 % happy with his career. (article 1)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Nishikori returned to the circuit after almost a year with a win in Washington. (article 1)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Nishikori will play Rafael Jodar in the round of 16 at the ATP 500 Washington tournament. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Nishikori has 12 ATP titles and 452 career victories. (article 0)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rafael Jodar, 19, won a title in Marrakech and reached deep runs at the Madrid and Rome Masters and a quarter‑final at Roland Garros. (article 2)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Nishikori was the US Open runner‑up in 2014 and a former world No. 4. (article 0)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Kei Nishikori announced that the 2026 season will be his last professional season. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rafael Jodar is a -600 betting favorite over Nishikori for the Washington match. (article 2)