IPTL Profiles: Kei Nishikori (Japan Warriors)

The Japan Warriors is the newest addition to the IPTL, and it has already solidified its status as a competitive team with the likes of Maria Sharapova and Kei Nishikori. For this profiles edition, we’re covering Kei Nishikori, the tennis hotshot of Japan. Should the Philippine Mavericks be worried? Find out.

Kei Nishikori was born on December 29, 1989 in Shimane, Japan. By the age of five, Kei was already hitting the tennis courts. When he was 12, Kei won three Japan junior tennis championships in the span of three months back in 2001. In 2003, he was selected by Masaaki Morita Tennis Fund as a certified player and moved to Florida that same year.

In 2007, Kei turned pro at the Japan Open and won his first ATP tour in February 2008 at Delray Beach.  He competed at the US Open in August and officially became the first Japanese male singles competitor to appear after 71 years. Nishikori received the ATP Newcomer of the Year Award that same year.

2009 wasn’t a good year for Kei as he suffered a right elbow injury and wasn’t able to play until 2010. His efforts during the 2010 tour landed him back in the top 100. In 2012, Kei rose to No. 20 in the rankings and won his second ATP Tour title at the Rakuten Japan Open.

The following year (2013), Kei won his third ATP Tour in Memphis — he won again in 2014 and reached the semis at the Miami Masters. That same year, Kei entered the world top 10 and ended the year as No. 5.

This year, Kei won his third consecutive Memphis title and reached the No. 4 spot in the world rankings. Kei will display his tennis prowess at the IPTL this December with the Japan Warriors. Will the Mavericks have an answer to this Japanese player’s offense?