Japan’s Kei Nishikori withdrew from the US Open on Wednesday and announced he has tested negative for Covid-19 after two positive tests for...
Japan’s Kei Nishikori withdrew from the US Open on Wednesday and announced he has tested negative for Covid-19 after two positive tests forced him out of a tuneup event.
Nishikori, 30, was the 2014 US Open runner-up and the first Asian man in a Grand Slam singles finals.
His two other best Slam showings, semi-final runs in 2016 and 2018, also came on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts.
“I am happy to announce that I tested negative for Covid,” Nishikori said in a social media posting. “I will slowly pick up my practice schedule tomorrow.
“Having said that, I (together with my team) have decided to skip the US Open this year. After such a long break I feel that returning in a best of 5 long-match setting is not smart until I am fully ready to do so. It’s disappointing as I love the US Open and have great memories.”
Nishikori, ranked 31, becomes the latest high-profile departure from the tournament, set to begin on Monday in a spectator-less quarantine bubble at the US National Tennis Center.
The Open is already without reigning champion Rafael Nadal, injured star Roger Federer, reigning women’s champion Bianca Andreescu and top-ranked Ash Barty.
Among those planning to compete are top-ranked Novak Djokovic, Britain’s Andy Murray and 23-time Grand...
