NEW YORK – Japan’s Kei Nishikori said Wednesday he will miss the U.S. Open tennis championships starting this weekend because of a back injury.
“Hi fans, unfortunately I will not be ready for the U.S. Open yet,” the former world No. 4 wrote in an X post. “I had an MRI taken of my back and it’s not 100 percent healed yet. Working hard to be back on court soon. Thanks for the support.”
The 35-year-old, currently ranked 88th, has struggled with injuries in recent years. The year’s last Grand Slam tournament begins Sunday.
Nishikori lost to Tommy Paul in the second round of the Australian Open in January before sitting out the French Open and Wimbledon.
He returned to the ATP Tour in early August at the Cincinnati Open but withdrew from a Challenger event in Sumter, South Carolina, the following week, with a shoulder injury.