Nishikori Announces Short-Term Schedule

Kei Nishikori will continue his return to competition on the ATP Challenger Tour in July, he announced on Twitter.

The former World No. 4, who triumphed at last week’s Palmas del Mar Challenger in his first tournament since October 2021, will next be in action at the Cranbrook Tennis Classic in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The hard-court event runs from 3-9 July.

The following week, the Japanese star will compete at the Chicago Men’s Challenger. Nishikori, 33, is hoping to then return to tour-level action, as early as the ATP Tour events in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

Despite playing his first tournament in 20 months, the 12-time tour-level titlist produced a high level to lift the trophy at last week’s Caribbean Open. Nishikori dropped just one set en route to his first title at any level since 2018.

Nishikori, who underwent arthroscopic left hip surgery last year, moved to World No. 492 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings following his triumph in Puerto Rico.

Welcome back to the winner's circle ????@keinishikori claims his first title since January 2019 after beating Zheng 6-2, 7-5 in Palmas del Mar#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/UVTUlqIhnG

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) June 18, 2023