By Gabe Jaramillo | Monday, September 28, 2026
Photo credit: Uniqlo
Editor’s Note: In honor of Kei Nishikori’s retirement, his former coach, Gabe Jaramillo, has written this farewell letter. Kei Nishikori achieved a career-high ranking of No. 4, made history when he knocked off Novak Djokovic to become the first Asian man to reach a major singles final at the 2014 US Open, scored 452 career victories, captured 12 championships and more than $26 million in career prize money, as well as a reputation as a true gentlemen, who treated opponents, media and fans with respect.
Kei, the English Lessons Paid Off
“Be quiet! I know what I am doing!”
The voice came from the court at Ariake Colosseum. The English was perfect. Unfortunately, it was directed at me.
Kei Nishikori was nervous, and his feet seemed to have stopped working.
Desperate to get him moving, I shouted in my very questionable Japanese, “Ashi o ugokashite!” Move your feet!
His reply came back loud and clear: “Be quiet! I know what I am doing!”
Well, I thought, at least the English lessons are paying off.
Today, as Kei says goodbye to professional tennis, that is one of the memories that makes me smile. Then comes the sadness. How can he be retiring? Wasn’t he a boy arriving at our academy just yesterday?
After more than 50 years of coaching, I have watched many students grow into champions. They fill stadiums, lift trophies, and hear thousands of people shout their names.
Eventually, they say goodbye. Somehow, the coach is never quite ready.
When I close my eyes, I still see the young Kei arriving with a dream. Through the Morita Foundation, led by Masaaki Morita, he received an extraordinary opportunity: a scholarship covering his education, training, and tournament expenses in the United States until he turned 18.
The foundation could pay his expenses. But it couldn’t make leaving home easy.
Imagine being a boy thousands of miles from your family, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, unable to speak the language. Even ordering lunch could become an adventure.
Then came the work: hours on court, endless repetitions, physical training, and school. Especially school. An education was part of the foundation’s commitment, and a good forehand did not excuse unfinished homework.
Along the way, we discovered that our coaching responsibilities extended well beyond tennis.
Once, after a 17-hour flight, we arrived at Narita Airport with Kei looking as though he had wrestled his seat cushion and lost. His hair was everywhere, his shirt was wrinkled, and he was half asleep.
Unknown to us, a crowd of reporters was waiting.
Cameras rolled. Questions flew.
A short question. “Hai.”
A long question. “Hai.”
Another question. Another “Hai.”
Yes. Yes. Yes.
We had spent countless hours preparing him to face the world’s best players. Clearly, we needed to spend a few preparing him to face a microphone.
Then came the moments everyone remembers. His first ATP title at Delray Beach in 2008, all the way from qualifying. His victory over David Ferrer at that year’s US Open. His first Japan Open title in 2012, beating Milos Raonic in front of his home crowd.
Then the 2014 US Open final. Then world No. 4.
The boy who once answered every question with “Hai” has given the tennis world plenty to talk about.
Thank you, Kei, for the victories, the laughter, and the privilege of watching you grow.
Thank you, Masaaki Morita, for trusting me and our team. Behind every champion are people whose contributions never appear on the scoreboard.
Now, Kei, I wish you happiness with your family and time for all the dreams that waited while tennis came first.
For once, you have no practice schedule.
And if you tell me you know what you are doing, I promise to be quiet.
About Gabe Jaramillo
Gabe Jaramillo is an internationally recognized tennis coach who has worked with 11 world No. 1 players, including Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Monica Seles, and Maria Sharapova. Founder and CEO of RPS Academies and author of How to Make Champions, he brings decades of experience developing champions at the highest levels of tennis. You can follow Gabe’s website here.
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