Retirement Special Project: Kei Nishikori, Thank You for the Inspiration! Archival Masterpiece Matches from Grand Slams, Japan Open, and More Now Streaming!
WOWOW is launching a special project to commemorate tennis player Kei Nishikori's retirement, streaming his legendary matches from Grand Slams and the Japan Open on WOWOW On Demand. The archive spans approximately 18 years of his illustrious career.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 19:40
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 22:51 (11h 49m after Collected)
WOWOW is implementing a special project to look back at the achievements of Kei Nishikori, the former world No. 4 and treasure of Japanese tennis, who announced his retirement at the end of this season on May 1st. Selected match footage, including Grand Slams from the "US Open Tennis 2008," which made the then-unknown Nishikori known to the world, to the "Australian Open Tennis 2025," his last major tournament appearance, as well as the "Japan Open Tennis," Japan's only men's ATP Tour official event where he has won twice, are now available on WOWOW On Demand. Over approximately 18 years of archives, viewers can relive the brilliant plays and heroic figures who rewrote Japanese tennis history countless times with his "Air Kei" weapon.
We sincerely hope you enjoy the fulfilling lineup, released with gratitude and respect for Nishikori, who has dramatically boosted domestic tennis popularity and continues to greatly influence as a role model for the next generation of players.
【Top 3 Featured Matches】
"US Open Tennis 2008 vs D. Ferrer"
This match is arguably where the legend began, with an 18-year-old Nishikori defeating world No. 4 Ferrer in a full set. He had won the ATP250 Delray Beach in February of the same year, shocking tennis fans worldwide. After this victory, he became only the second Japanese player in history to reach the Round of 16 in a Grand Slam, proving his skill.
"Japan Open Tennis 2012 vs M. Raonic"
For Nishikori, then world No. 17, this year's Japan Open was a match where he aimed for his first tour title since 2008 (ATP250 Delray Beach). Against Raonic, who wielded a powerful serve, Nishikori's aggressive returns shone, leading him to his long-sought first victory in front of a packed Ariake Colosseum.
"Australian Open Tennis 2019 vs P. Carreno Busta"
This was a fierce battle lasting over 5 hours, where the 10-point tie-break introduced in this tournament decided the fate.
This match, where he made a dramatic comeback after being down two sets, is synonymous with Nishikori's reputation for being "strong in full sets."
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
【Lineup】
"Kei Nishikori, Thank You for the Inspiration!" Now Streaming on WOWOW On Demand!
https://wod.wowow.co.jp/browse/person/66821
■Australian Open Masterpiece Matches
"Australian Open Tennis 2012 2nd Round vs Ebden"
"Australian Open Tennis 2012 4th Round vs J. Tsonga"
"Australian Open Tennis 2012 Quarterfinal vs A. Murray"
"Australian Open Tennis 2014 4th Round vs R. Nadal"
"Australian Open Tennis 2015 4th Round vs D. Ferrer"
"Australian Open Tennis 2015 Quarterfinal vs S. Wawrinka"
"Australian Open Tennis 2016 4th Round vs J. Tsonga"
"Australian Open Tennis 2017 4th Round vs R. Federer"
"Australian Open Tennis 2019 4th Round vs P. Carreno Busta"
"Australian Open Tennis 2025 1st Round vs T. Monteiro"
"Australian Open Tennis 2025 2nd Round vs T. Paul"
and others
■French Open Masterpiece Matches
"French Open Tennis 2013 4th Round vs R. Nadal"
"French Open Tennis 2015 4th Round vs T. Berdych"
"French Open Tennis 2015 Quarterfinal vs J. Tsonga"
"French Open Tennis 2016 3rd Round vs F. Verdasco"
"French Open Tennis 2016 4th Round vs R. Gasquet"
"French Open Tennis 2017 3rd Round vs Chung Hyeon"
"French Open Tennis 2017 4th Round vs F. Verdasco"
"French Open Tennis 2017 Quarterfinal vs A. Murray"
"French Open Tennis 2018 2nd Round vs B. Paire"
"French Open Tennis 2018 3rd Round vs G. Simon"
"French Open Tennis 2018 4th Round vs D. Thiem"
"French Open Tennis 2019 3rd Round vs L. Djere"
"French Open Tennis 2019 4th Round vs B. Paire"
"French Open Tennis 2019 Quarterfinal vs R. Nadal"
"French Open Tennis 2021 2nd Round vs K. Khachanov"
"French Open Tennis 2024 1st Round vs G. Diallo"
and others
■US Open Masterpiece Matches
"US Open Tennis 2008 3rd Round vs D. Ferrer"
"US Open Tennis 2010 2nd Round vs M. Cilic"
"US Open Tennis 2012 3rd Round vs M. Cilic"
"US Open Tennis 2014 4th Round...
We sincerely hope you enjoy the fulfilling lineup, released with gratitude and respect for Nishikori, who has dramatically boosted domestic tennis popularity and continues to greatly influence as a role model for the next generation of players.
【Top 3 Featured Matches】
"US Open Tennis 2008 vs D. Ferrer"
This match is arguably where the legend began, with an 18-year-old Nishikori defeating world No. 4 Ferrer in a full set. He had won the ATP250 Delray Beach in February of the same year, shocking tennis fans worldwide. After this victory, he became only the second Japanese player in history to reach the Round of 16 in a Grand Slam, proving his skill.
"Japan Open Tennis 2012 vs M. Raonic"
For Nishikori, then world No. 17, this year's Japan Open was a match where he aimed for his first tour title since 2008 (ATP250 Delray Beach). Against Raonic, who wielded a powerful serve, Nishikori's aggressive returns shone, leading him to his long-sought first victory in front of a packed Ariake Colosseum.
"Australian Open Tennis 2019 vs P. Carreno Busta"
This was a fierce battle lasting over 5 hours, where the 10-point tie-break introduced in this tournament decided the fate.
This match, where he made a dramatic comeback after being down two sets, is synonymous with Nishikori's reputation for being "strong in full sets."
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
【Lineup】
"Kei Nishikori, Thank You for the Inspiration!" Now Streaming on WOWOW On Demand!
https://wod.wowow.co.jp/browse/person/66821
■Australian Open Masterpiece Matches
"Australian Open Tennis 2012 2nd Round vs Ebden"
"Australian Open Tennis 2012 4th Round vs J. Tsonga"
"Australian Open Tennis 2012 Quarterfinal vs A. Murray"
"Australian Open Tennis 2014 4th Round vs R. Nadal"
"Australian Open Tennis 2015 4th Round vs D. Ferrer"
"Australian Open Tennis 2015 Quarterfinal vs S. Wawrinka"
"Australian Open Tennis 2016 4th Round vs J. Tsonga"
"Australian Open Tennis 2017 4th Round vs R. Federer"
"Australian Open Tennis 2019 4th Round vs P. Carreno Busta"
"Australian Open Tennis 2025 1st Round vs T. Monteiro"
"Australian Open Tennis 2025 2nd Round vs T. Paul"
and others
■French Open Masterpiece Matches
"French Open Tennis 2013 4th Round vs R. Nadal"
"French Open Tennis 2015 4th Round vs T. Berdych"
"French Open Tennis 2015 Quarterfinal vs J. Tsonga"
"French Open Tennis 2016 3rd Round vs F. Verdasco"
"French Open Tennis 2016 4th Round vs R. Gasquet"
"French Open Tennis 2017 3rd Round vs Chung Hyeon"
"French Open Tennis 2017 4th Round vs F. Verdasco"
"French Open Tennis 2017 Quarterfinal vs A. Murray"
"French Open Tennis 2018 2nd Round vs B. Paire"
"French Open Tennis 2018 3rd Round vs G. Simon"
"French Open Tennis 2018 4th Round vs D. Thiem"
"French Open Tennis 2019 3rd Round vs L. Djere"
"French Open Tennis 2019 4th Round vs B. Paire"
"French Open Tennis 2019 Quarterfinal vs R. Nadal"
"French Open Tennis 2021 2nd Round vs K. Khachanov"
"French Open Tennis 2024 1st Round vs G. Diallo"
and others
■US Open Masterpiece Matches
"US Open Tennis 2008 3rd Round vs D. Ferrer"
"US Open Tennis 2010 2nd Round vs M. Cilic"
"US Open Tennis 2012 3rd Round vs M. Cilic"
"US Open Tennis 2014 4th Round...