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Naomi Osaka reacts to Kei Nishikori’s retirement with heartfelt message on social media
TL;DR
Kei Nishikori announced that the 2026 ATP season will be his final one, ending a two-decade career. Naomi Osaka shared a heartfelt message on social media in response to his retirement news.
Key points
- Kei Nishikori will retire after the 2026 ATP season
- Nishikori's career lasted two decades
- He competed during a challenging era in tennis
- Naomi Osaka reacted with a heartfelt message
Kei NishikoriNaomi Osaka
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Kei Nishikori has announced that the 2026 ATP season will be his last, bringing a close to a career that spanned two decades and saw him become one of the sport’s most recognisable figures.
Nishikori shared the news on Friday through social media, explaining that while he wished he could have played longer, he felt proud of what he had achieved.
Competing during an era dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—often regarded as the toughest period in tennis history—Nishikori still managed to carve out an impressive career.
In addition to 12 ATP titles and reaching the US Open final in 2014, Nishikori was also the first Asian male player to reach a Grand Slam final.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Naomi Osaka responds to Kei Nishikori’s retirement from tennis
Osaka marked the moment by sharing a photo on her Instagram story, showing the two holding a Japanese flag at the 2018 US Open.
That year was memorable for both of them in New York, especially for Osaka, who won her first Grand Slam title by beating Serena Williams in the final.
Nishikori also had a strong run that year, reaching the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Djokovic.
The image came with a caption where Osaka wrote: “I do not think Kei knows how inspirational he is to me but when I was younger I would always watch his matches and want him to do well.”
She followed up with another photo of them on court together, adding: “Hopefully we can play doubles again sometime!”
Marin Cilic sends his best wishes to Kei Nishikori after retirement announcement
Q&A
What did Kei Nishikori say about his retirement?
Kei Nishikori expressed pride in his achievements and mentioned he wished he could have played longer.
How long did Kei Nishikori's tennis career last?
Kei Nishikori's professional tennis career spanned two decades.
What was Naomi Osaka's reaction to Nishikori's retirement?
Naomi Osaka shared a heartfelt message on social media in response to Kei Nishikori's retirement announcement.
