Fans lined up outside of the Newport Beach Tennis Club as early as 8:30am. The Japanese media came out in force, with a WOWOW crew on site to broadcast the match. Tommy Haas, the BNP Paribas Open Tournament Director and former World No. 2, could be seen walking around the grounds. By the time the match started at 1pm, hundreds of spectators surrounded Court No. 1. Rusty, but ready, Kei Nishikori made his long-awaited return to professional tennis in front of a packed crowd on Tuesday at the inaugural ATP Challenger Tour event in Newport Beach, California. Following five months on the sidelines due to a wrist injury, the Japanese star kicked off his comeback at the Oracle Challenger Series...
In this edition of the Challenger Vault, Kei Nishikori reflects on his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Bermuda in 2008 and talks about how the circuit helped grow his game.
Last week, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka kicked off their comebacks at the Australian Open, with both returning to action after extended injury absences in 2017. Now, it's time for another former Top 5 star to begin his climb back up the ATP Rankings. In one of the most highly anticipated ATP Challenger Tour appearances of all time, Kei Nishikori is set to make his comeback debut this week in Newport Beach, California. But the Japanese star, who was up to a career-high World No. 4 less than a year ago, will have to fight a loaded field for the trophy. Set to return to the pro circuit after a wrist injury sidelined him since August, the five-time ATP Challenger...
Sports fans in the greater Los Angeles and Dallas areas are in for a treat over the next few weeks. In an era where big stadiums and mammoth arenas dominate the sporting landscape, witnessing the greatness of a superstar in an smaller, more intimate setting still holds a special charm. Those coming out to the Newport Beach Tennis Club and T Bar M Racquet Club will soon have that opportunity, as former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori is set to make his comeback debut in the cozy confines of the ATP Challenger Tour. The Japanese star will begin his quest to return to the Top 5 after prematurely ending his 2017 season due to a right wrist injury in August....
