Kei Nishikori says he “almost” quit tennis last year after saving two match points to claim his first Australian Open victory since 2019.
The 35-year-old Japanese missed nine consecutive Grand Slam tournaments from September 2021 to May 2024 due to long struggles with injuries.
Appearing in Melbourne for the first time in four years, Nishikori defeated Brazilian Thiago Monteiro 4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 in a five-set thriller.
Explaining how close he came to retirement, former US Open finalist Nishikori said: “I’m almost back [and then] I got injured again.
“I thought if I had another surgery, mentally I wouldn’t be able to fight anymore.”
Nishikori, who lost to Marin Cilic in the 2014 US Open final, has a winning record of 29-8 in five-set matches at the Tour level.
His victory over Monteiro saw him win nine five-set matches at Melbourne Park and lose only once to Roger Federer in 2017.
