By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, August 27, 2023
Kei Nishikori won't be making a Flushing Meadows return.
The 2014 US Open finalist has withdrawn from the US Open, which starts tomorrow, due to an unspecified injury.
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Nishikori, who defeated Novak Djokovic en route to the 2014 US Open final, is replaced in the men's singles draw by lucky loser James Duckworth (AUS), who will play Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) in the first round on Tuesday.
Former world No. 4 Nishikori has seen his career derailed by a series of injuries.
In January 2022, Nishikori had arthroscopic surgery on his left hip. Recovery and rehab knocked Nishikori out of the rest of the 2022 season.
This year, after dealing with a foot injury at the start of the season, Nishikori returned to tennis in June at an ATP Challenger event in Puerto Rico. Nishikori sent on to take the title, the first ever unranked player ever to win an ATP Challenger title.
Last month, the 33-year-old Nishikori won his first tour level match since October 2021 topping Australia’s Jordan Thompson 7-6(5), 7-6(5) at the Atlanta Open.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve