Rafael Nadal inspires former top ten star’s return after hip surgery

Former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori has revealed that the recent efforts of the elder statesmen of tennis have inspired him to attempt a comeback after 21 months out of the game.

Nishikori underwent hip surgery and then suffered a series of injury setbacks that seemed insurmountable.

However, he now feels physically in a better place to give it one last chance and see if he can keep winning in his late 30s like his idols.

Nishikori feels that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are a beacon to players in the twilight of their careers.

He admits that the long comeback path left him depressed and contemplating retirement.

“It was tough to maintain the motivation, but I just wanted to play tennis again and compete again,” Nishikori said, according to Eurosport.

“And especially watching [Novak] Djokovic, Rafa [Nadal] still playing, fighting. And I haven’t played against Alcaraz, Rune. That’s something I also can’t wait to play against them.”

Nishikori’s return has so far included just three Challenger competitions.

After winning the championship in Palmas del Mar, he was defeated in the second round of the Bloomfield Hills Open by world No 161 Denis Kudla, and then fell to world No 160 and rising American star Alex Michelsen in the Chicago quarter-finals.

He makes his top-tier return this week at the ATP 250 Atlanta Open, where he will face world No 63 Jordan Thompson in the first round.

“I couldn’t believe I played as well as I played today…I felt like I could compete on the tour again,” he said after lifting the title in Palmas del Mar.

After Atlanta, he’ll compete at the ATP 500 Citi Open in Washington DC before returning to the US Open if everything goes to plan. It was at Flushing Meadows where he lost in the final to Marin Cilic in 2014, his best Grand Slam effort. It will be his first Grand Slam appearance in two years if he plays in New York this term.

Nishikori is eager to test himself against top players again.

“I just need to play more matches,” Nishikori said as he ramped up his return earlier this month.

“I think I just need to play with those top-50 players again.

“I just need to get used to playing with those guys and get confidence again. Overall I’m really happy with how I’m playing. I just need to focus and recover well.”

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