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Kei Nishikori: tennis star back in action at Dallas Challenger

By Harry Floyd

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - JANUARY 23: Kei Nishikori of Japan returns a backhand volley to Dennis Novikov during the first round of the Oracle Challenger Series at the Newport Beach Tennis Club on January 23, 2018 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
NEWPORT BEACH, CA - JANUARY 23: Kei Nishikori of Japan returns a backhand volley to Dennis Novikov during the first round of the Oracle Challenger Series at the Newport Beach Tennis Club on January 23, 2018 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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Kei Nishikori is back in action after his initial comeback at Newport Beach in mid January. He is featured as the top seed at the Dallas Challenger event.

Kei Nishikori bounced back into competitive ATP action at Newport Beach in January. Skipping the first Grand Slam of the calendar year, he elected to ease into his return to tennis.

Injuries have depleted several of men’s singles top players in recent months and Nishikori was one of the many casualties. An injury to his right wrist cut his 2017 ATP World Tour short.

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Now, Nishikori is once again in action at the Dallas ATP Challenger Tour event. He squares off against American Dennis Novikov. The American tennis player knocked the Japanese tennis star out of his opening round match earlier this month in Newport Beach.

It will be a telling rematch between the two tennis players. As Nishikori looks to once again make himself a household name on the ATP World Tour, he has a lot to play for. A rocky outing in Dallas could make for an up and down first few months of 2018.

Kei Nishikori is a former world No. 4 in men’s singles tennis.

The Japanese tennis star has twice reached the quarterfinals at the French Open. One of those appearances came last year at the Grand Slam event. If he can find his rhythm in the next few months, look for him to be a contender at the upcoming major tournament.

Play at the 2018 Australian Open ended with Roger Federer notching a 20th career Grand Slam title. He and Rafael Nadal continue to dominate men’s singles tennis as of late. Players like Nishikori need to get back into the action with some early runs here on tour. A strong performance in Dallas could set up the Japanese tennis star for a solid bounce back. He will need to ignore his previous outing against his opening round opponent this week.

Next: Top 10: Men's Singles Tennis

Kei Nishikori could once again became a top player in tennis. If his wrist holds up on the early 2018 ATP World Tour, there is no reason to think that he can’t crack into the ATP Top 10 by year’s end. He is the current world No. 27 in men’s singles tennis. Coming in as the top seed this week in Dallas, Nishikori must prove that he deserves the ranking. If anyone can make a smooth comeback on tour, it is Nishikori. Having immense experience at just 28-years-old, the Japanese tennis star has what it takes to be a player to beat this year. Stay tuned to see how his return to tennis continues in the early months of 2018. Check back for updates on his progress as he eyes the next Grand Slam at Roland Garros later this year.

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