Veteran tennis player Kei Nishikori announced on Sunday, August 16 that he’s tested positive for COVID-19.
As a result, Nishikori has withdrawn from the Western & Southern Open, a hard-court, tuneup event for the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows in New York City. The Grand Slam event is set to start on August 31.
Nishikori, 30, is self-quarantining in Florida.
He was scheduled to travel to New York for the Western & Southern Open on August 17, before testing positive for the virus. The Western & Southern Open was moved from Cincinnati to New York this year due to the global pandemic. The tournament begins on Thursday, August 20.
"I will have to pull out of the Cincinnati tournament at this time. I am feeling well and have very little symptoms but will obviously be in complete isolation for the safety of everyone," Nishikori announced on his mobile app. He described his health setback as “some unfortunate news.”
Nishikori, who resides in Florida, and his support staff are scheduled to be tested again for COVID-19 on Friday, August 21.
The world No. 31 turned pro in 2007. The Shimane native reached a career-best No. 4 in the world rankings in March 2015. He’s earned $23.8 million USD in prize money during his career on the ATP Tour.
Nishikori has been sidelined since last year’s U.S. Open, where he dropped a third-round encounter with Alex de Minaur.
After exiting the 2019 U.S. Open, Nishikori had surgery on his right elbow.
In 2014, Nishikori advanced to a Grand Slam final for the first—and still only—time in his long career, losing 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to Marin Cilic in the U.S. Open title match.
Author: Ed Odeven
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