MUBADALA DC OPEN

July 26, 2026

Kei Nishikori

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Kei, welcome back to D.C. What are your goals for this year's tournament?

KEI NISHIKORI: To play a good match. This is weird feeling because I know when is the last tournament and I know there is only few more matches I can play. Of course, I want to do good, and I want to finish good. I want to play good tennis and finish it, and that's going to be my goal.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Kei, I want to ask you if you can expand on that a little bit. The fact that you know the end is near, what is that like? A player only goes through that presumably once, unless they're Venus or Serena, but you go through it once. What is that like for you mentally to know that it's coming?

KEI NISHIKORI: I'm still waiting how I'm going to feel, because right now I'm still calm and relaxed, but I know if I step in the court playing a match, I know I'm going to start feel different feeling. Either, I don't know, excited or sad maybe or more pressure.

I don't know, but I try to stay simple. I try to enjoy all the moment. Luckily, I'm playing my friend Jerry first round, so I try to enjoy the match.

Q. As far as getting the wild card here in Washington, you've had success, 2015 title. What has this tournament and this environment meant to you?

KEI NISHIKORI: I'm really thanks to the tournament to giving me the chance to play main draw, to play with those great players again. Yeah, I have a good memory here. I played some good matches, won one time. Long time ago, but still, it's in my head.

I think it's a little bit advantage for me to play here. Yeah, just keep it simple, play good tennis.

Q. Kei, this time last year you were still ranked inside the top 100, and obviously injuries came back again. I'm just curious if you can sort of talk through what you've been doing for the last year or so and the ups and downs you've had with injuries and playing some challengers, what the last, like, 12 months has been like for you?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, I was really struggling last, I don't know, ten months, one year with my body, especially my body. Also, I didn't feel my tennis until one month ago. I've been practicing a lot last two months.

After March I took one month off, like, not doing anything. Then my body got recover pretty good, and I had, like, four injuries, but now I have, like, two, so (smiling)...

That's why I was able to practice hard, train a lot, and I'm feeling pretty good now. Practicing well, so hope I can do that in the match, and I have, you know, a couple of matches I can play. I know I haven't played good match since, I would say, before French last year, so I don't know how I can play tomorrow, but I try to do my best.

Q. You've been one of the pioneers for Asian tennis. What stands out to you about Alex Eala and her rise?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, I hope she can jump up this year again. I know she's been playing really well since last year, two years ago.

She has a lot of weapons, I think. She can be top 10 any time if she can stay healthy and play good, mentally stay tough. Yeah, I'm actually really happy that she's -- of course, she has most potential, I think, but many Asians, of course, Chinese too, but are inside of top 100 right now, more than guys. So I think hopefully more men's Asian tennis gets stronger.

I think Japanese and also Chinese are doing really well. Jerry, Wu Yibing, and many more. I hope she can -- yeah, Naomi and Eala can stay up there.

Q. I was walking around and seeing a lot of Japanese flags, T-shirts, signs. I was curious if you have a message to a lot of the fans that are here supporting you on your last D.C. run?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah, I'm happy to see many Japanese even today for practice. You know, there was many. Always happy to play here because you see a lot of Asians comes to support.

That's why also I think I enjoy this week. Thank you for support all the time, and I hope I can show some good tennis.

Q. As you mentioned, of course, at the start of the press conference, you'll be playing against Jerry Shang, who you called a friend. Can you speak a little bit more about him? I know he's also had his fair share of injuries, but can you talk a little bit more about him and just your relationship as well with him?

KEI NISHIKORI: Yeah. We were laughing because last, like, six weeks we practiced two, three times a week every week, so we hit, like, 20 times. We played a lot of practice sets, and I think we know how we're going to play now.

It's never easy playing friend, but I like how he plays, you know, how he has great forehand. He has good serve now, lefty. I think he can be top 20, top 10 if he can stay healthy. He was unlucky last year and this year, too, but if he's on a roll, he can play.

So I'm happy that he's always nice person. He works hard. I hope he does good. Not tomorrow, but yeah, in the future (smiling).