Nishikori, indignant with himself after losing to Jódar: "My last match cannot be like this"

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The resounding defeat suffered by Kei Nishikori against Rafael Jódar at the ATP 500 Washington 2026 left the Japanese deeply affected. The veteran tennis player admitted in a press conference that he was unable to translate the good feelings he experiences in training into the competition and even contemplated a future retirement, although he made it clear that he does not want to bid farewell to tennis with a performance like this.

"I couldn't get a ball inside the court, it even seemed amusing to me," Nishikori admitted. "It was the typical match after returning. In training, I can hit well, but when a real match comes, I can't do it."

Nishikori refuses to bid farewell to tennis with these feelings

Especially significant were the thoughts that crossed his mind immediately after falling to Jódar, who confirmed with this victory his extraordinary moment of confidence.

maybe I even end up hating tennis with this kind of ending." It may sound like bravado, but unlike matches of last year, this time I didn't feel like the opponent was too fast or I was forced to play defense all the time. Need to get used to playing against top 30 or top 50.

— 井蛙堂 (@seiadoumogera) July 30, 2026

"When the match ended, I thought: 'I can't retire if this were my last match. Perhaps I would even end up hating tennis with an ending like this'," confessed the Japanese, expressing a reflection filled with frustration but also showing that he retains motivation to keep trying.

Nishikori also found a positive aspect within such a disappointing performance. "It may sound like boasting, but unlike the matches of last year, this time I didn't feel that the opponent was too fast or that I was forced to defend all the time," he explained.

That nuance fuels his hopes. The former world number four believes that his current issue lies not so much in a physical inability to keep up with players like Jódar but in regaining automatisms and competitiveness after so many interruptions. "I need to get used to playing against Top-30 or Top-50 players," he concluded.

The defeat in Washington highlights how much road he still has to travel, but Nishikori refuses to leave with this taste in his mouth. Behind him are years of physical problems; ahead of him, the challenge of proving that he can still compete honorably against a new generation led by players like Rafael Jódar.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nishikori, indignado consigo mismo tras perder con Jódar: "Mi último partido no puede ser así"