Kei Nishikori retires to Khachanov at Gerry Weber Open with back issues

Injuries that are gradual aren’t good. If they strike suddenly and a player can’t go on, it’s horrible. This happened to Kei Nishikori.

It was the second round of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.

Kei Nishikori and Russia’s Karen Khachanov walked on court. Nishikori was behind 3-2 in the first set and then it hit.

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"“It’s really too bad”, Nishikori said. “I’m surprised because there was no hint (of injury)”."

A medical timeout was taken with Nishikori receiving hip and lower back massages. The trainer and Nishikori knew it was a no-brainer to discontinue the match so things were packed up and he retired barely playing 30 minutes, giving Karen the match.

"“I felt like I twisted it” said Nishikori, but his face was also in a bunch of frowns showing the pain from his back and glute muscles."

The tournament for Nishikori was his first on grass since he finished up the clay court season a few weeks ago at the French Open.

Nishikori was finished due to a left leg injury 2015 and then pain to his oblique (stomach) muscles. He partly says it’s playing on grass that causes him to have various movements trying to accommodate the irregular bounces of the ball on grass.

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But Nishikori was also bothered with injuries leaving his team, fans and the tennis community concerned when throughout the clay court season he had intervals of wrist ailments. There was also a very scary time when during the second round of the French Open a trainer was called to have his chest massaged during the third set when he played France’s Jeremy Chardy.

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Despite it all, Kei Nishikori settled down gave it his best strategies to win the match with a great executed backhand winner. He did reach the quarterfinals at the French Open but has yet to celebrate having a title yet in 2017. During the times he’s played Wimbledon, he has never gone beyond the fourth round, leaving everyone to wonder if he can maintain his health to get through the prestigious England event – The Wimbledon Championships happening in a few weeks.