Carlos Alcaraz Makes Feelings Clear on Kei Nishikori as Pending Goal Nears

In 2014, 24-year-old Kei Nishikori stood on the edge of history, chasing his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown at the Mutua Madrid Open. He carved through the Top 5 giants, Milos Raonic and David Ferrer, only for injury and Rafael Nadal to shatter the fairytale in the final. It was one of those brutal heartbreaks that remind us how cruel sport can be. “I’ve got used to the journey, the struggle. My body is not the strongest, I know that, so I have to really take care of it,” he said this year. Yet Kei, a warrior from the Big 3 era, still inspires, just ask Carlos Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz walked into his pre-match press conference at the Japan Open with the calm swagger of a man ready for battle. Yet, when asked about Kei Nishikori, his tone softened into admiration. “I love Kei Nishikori, to be honest,” he began with a smile. “You know, I grew up watching him play, his style, the way he moves, and the way he hits the ball,” he added, painting a picture of a young boy glued to the television, learning the game by watching the Japanese maestro glide across the court.

Alcaraz didn’t stop there. He dug deeper into his admiration, almost narrating a highlight reel of Nishikori’s finest moments. “For me, it is impressive. I have seen beating the best players in the world, winning the best trophies in the tour, and making grand slam finals. You know, for me, he was a player whom I really enjoyed watching him play, so for me, it’s been an honor.” But then came the bittersweet note, the part where admiration met regret.

The Spaniard reflected on the fact that he never got the chance to face Nishikori. It was a dream match that slipped away earlier this year when the Japanese legend had to retire from his second-round match in Geneva due to lower back pain. Thus, he missed the French Open, where the battle was ready to start.

“I haven’t had the chance to play against him, but for me, it’s been an honor to watch him play at the best level. So I think Japan was lucky to have a player like Kei Nishikori,” Carlos concluded, his words echoing like a heartfelt tribute rather than a simple statement. It was the kind of praise that can only come from a competitor who recognizes greatness when he sees it.

Of course, Kei’s journey in recent seasons has been a battlefield of injuries. Since his return, he has fought valiantly just to get back on court, managing to play only at the Australian Open this year. Notably, it was his first AO appearance since 2021. And even though his 2024 campaign had problems, the Japanese warrior ensured he still had unfinished business. The fire in his eyes remains, and the hunger to face the sport’s new titans is still alive.

In an interview ahead of the Australian Open this year, Nishikori set his sights on the future with a bold challenge. “There are young players like Sinner and Alcaraz that I have never faced. I would like to challenge them in 2025. It is something that motivates me to be able to play against these young talents,” he said, before adding with quiet determination. “I need even more confidence to win more matches at the highest level. I want to enjoy every match, I feel good again. Playing against top 50 players will not be easy, but I have the same passion as always and I train a lot.”

And that passion continues to drive him. “I still have the same passion that I had 10 years ago. I still love tennis, I still love competing. Physically I feel good, finally I would say. I also feel more confident about my tennis. I hope to get into the top 50, maybe even the top 20 or 10 in a few years,” he revealed to the official ATP website. 

With Alcaraz now voicing his admiration for the Japanese icon ahead of his own campaign in Tokyo, the moment feels poetic. It is a passing of the torch, yet one that still burns brightly in Nishikori’s hands as he dreams of one last battle with the sport’s brightest young stars. As for Alcaraz, there’s no end to his tennis battles with Sinner. 

Carlos Alcaraz reflects on Jannik Sinner ahead of the Japan Open

Carlos Alcaraz could make his Tokyo debut this week, while Jannik Sinner is busy in Beijing. But the Spaniard’s mind still lingers on their rapidly intensifying rivalry. Fresh off his US Open triumph, where he toppled Sinner in the final, Alcaraz extended his H2H lead to 10-5, winning seven of their last eight battles. That defeat cost Sinner the No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings and even pushed the Italian to hint at making key changes.

But Alcaraz isn’t taking anything for granted. “I know he’s going to change,” he admitted during his pre-tournament press conference in Tokyo. “He is going to change something from the last match. It’s the same thing that I did when I lost to him a couple of times. I tried to be a better player. Next time I’m going to face him so I expect him to do the same thing to change a few things just to be ready and I have to be focused and I have to be ready for the changes.”

It’s been a commanding season for the young Spaniard. He leads the ATP Tour with 61 wins and has already lifted seven trophies this year, marking one of the most dominant campaigns in recent memory. Even more impressively, his latest victory over Sinner propelled him past one of Serena Williams’ exclusive records. It puts him within striking distance of eclipsing his 2023 mark of 65 wins in a year.

Now, as the Japan Open looms, the question burns bright: can Alcaraz launch his Tokyo campaign with the same hunger and bring home yet another title?