It was a tough call for Kei Nishikori to cut short his 2020 season but it looks like a decision that could have long-term benefits for the Japanese star. This year’s French Open was the stage where the 30-year-old suffered a right shoulder injury, during what was a five-set epic against the Italian Stefano Travaglia in the second round at Roland Garros. Quickly the extent of the injury was realized, and Nishikori was forced to skip the following three tournaments, despite his best efforts to compete.
There were hopes the Bradenton, Florida resident would be able to feature in the Paris Masters in November but again that opportunity came and went before plans were announced to take a break from the court. Having endured a right elbow injury last year, that required surgery at the time, Nishikori has been forced to endure his fair share of fitness setbacks. It has been a stop-start year for the former world number four but finally he made a decision to switch his focus to 2021.
Nishikoria admitted his shoulder was still a cause for concern and that he would skip the Paris Masters and Sofia Open before looking ahead to the Australian Open next year, for which he is 80/1 in the tennis betting to win the first Grand Slam event of 2021.
With Nishikori turning 31 at the end of December, the four-time Australian Open quarter-finalist knows the importance of looking after his body to get the most out of his remaining years on the court. So many of the top players this generation has produced have had their problems with injuries, including the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. Making sure he recovers fully from this shoulder issue will be key for Nishikori if he is to challenge for that elusive first Grand Slam title of his career.
Looking at the winners of the major events this year, there is nothing to suggest Nishikori can’t end his wait for Grand Slam glory. Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverer were the last two men standing at the US Open in the Big Apple this year, showing that perhaps the stranglehold the likes of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have had on the men’s game is approaching a conclusion.
Nishikori came so close to realising that Grand Slam dream back in 2014 at the US Open on the hard court surface, but in the end suffered a 6-3 6-3 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Croatian Marin Cilic at Flushing Meadows. So he knows what it takes to reach these high-profile finals and all being well with the shoulder injury, Nishikori has the potential to get back there.
The man himself has spoken of what he has described as “obviously an important year coming up”. Perhaps 2021 can be the year that Nishikori puts his frustrating injury woes behind him and lands that maiden Grand Slam title.
