Chinese teen retires as 35-year-old Kei Nishikori qualifies for first final in six years

NEW DELHI: 35-year-old Kei Nishikori reached his first ATP final in six years at the Hong Kong Open on Saturday. His opponent, 19-year-old Chinese player Shang Juncheng , retired due to illness when Nishikori was leading 4-3 in the semifinal.

Nishikori, who achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in 2015 and was the runner-up at the 2014 US Open , has been plagued by injuries in recent years.

However, he has shown remarkable resilience in Hong Kong, where he entered the tournament as a wildcard.

On his way to the final, Nishikori defeated several notable players, including third-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov, Britain's Cam Norrie, and Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

His impressive run in Hong Kong will see him re-enter the top 100 in the ATP rankings on Monday, a position he has not held since June 2022.

Nishikori, who became the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the 2014 US Open, will face France's Alexandre Muller in the Hong Kong Open final on Sunday.

It will be his 27th tour-level final and his first since winning the Brisbane International in 2019.

The Japanese veteran has overcome significant challenges, including major hip surgery, to rediscover his form and compete at a high level once again.

With 12 ATP titles and a bronze medal from the 2016 Rio Olympics, Nishikori's determination and perseverance have been instrumental in his successful comeback.