Kei Nishikori Withdraws from 2024 French Open Due to Shoulder Injury

Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori has withdrawn from the 2024 French Open men's singles second round with a right shoulder injury. Nishikori, 34, was trailing American 15th seed Ben Shelton 2-0 in sets when he retired from the match on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

This marked Nishikori's first Grand Slam appearance in almost three years. He had been struggling with his shoulder for two to three months but believed he was ready to compete. Nishikori won his opening match at Roland Garros, defeating Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo in a grueling five-set marathon lasting four hours and 22 minutes on Sunday.

However, the exertions from the first-round match took their toll. Nishikori's shoulder injury flared up, causing him to retire after losing the first two sets to Shelton. "Unfortunately played five sets and my shoulder was not ready... Beginning was okay, but start hurting after playing first set and second set, and maybe I could play one more set, but it start, like, buzzing and start feeling something, sharp pain, so I stopped," Nishikori explained.

Nishikori's ranking has plummeted to 350 following a lengthy injury absence. He has barely played on the tour in the past two years following a succession of injuries to his hip, ankle, and knee. He used a protected ranking to compete in Paris.

Nishikori expressed his disappointment but acknowledged the reality of his situation. "I have been struggling with my shoulder for two, three months now, and it got better. I thought I was ready to play before first round, so I played," he said.

Ben Shelton advances to the third round following Nishikori's withdrawal and will face Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No. 21 seed. In the previous round, Shelton defeated Frenchman Hugo Gaston in four sets.

The 2024 French Open at Roland Garros continues to unfold with numerous upsets and intense matches, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

Nishikori's return to Grand Slam tennis was highly anticipated, but his ongoing struggle with injuries highlights the challenges athletes face in maintaining peak performance. His path back to the top remains a story of resilience and determination.

Key Takeaways

• Kei Nishikori withdraws from 2024 French Open due to right shoulder injury.
• Nishikori was trailing 2-0 in sets against Ben Shelton when he retired.
• This was Nishikori's first Grand Slam appearance in almost three years.
• Nishikori's ranking has plummeted to 350 due to lengthy injury absence.
• Ben Shelton advances to the third round and will face Felix Auger-Aliassime.