Nishikori falls loudly in the qualifying round of Montreal

Kei Nishikori suffered another setback in his attempt to prolong his sports career. The Japanese player clearly lost in the final round of the qualifying phase of the ATP Masters 1000 Montreal 2026 against the American Michael Zheng, who won decisively with a score of 6-3 and 6-1, leaving the former world number four with no chances of reaching the main draw.

The defeat represents another blow for Nishikori, who has been struggling with physical limitations due to injuries for months. His desire to continue competing remains intact, but it is increasingly evident that he is struggling to keep up with the pace demanded by top-level tennis.

Zheng confirms his growth and leaves Nishikori without answers

Michael Zheng, the recent NCAA champion, once again demonstrated that he is going through a clear progression. The American was superior from start to finish, dominating the exchanges and taking advantage of Nishikori's lack of explosiveness, as the Japanese player barely found solutions.

For the Japanese player, the contrast with what he experienced a few days earlier in Washington is painful. There he achieved a victory that seemed to bring him some hope, but the subsequent defeats against Rafael Jódar and now against Zheng highlight the enormous difficulty he faces in competing reliably in tournaments of this category.

At 36 years old, Nishikori seems to be proving to himself that the time for retirement is approaching. His talent remains intact, but his body no longer responds with the necessary regularity to handle demanding weeks or to maintain the physical intensity required on the circuit.

His main hope now is to say goodbye at the US Open, the venue where he has experienced so much joy and where he reached the final in 2014. However, the level he has shown in recent weeks suggests that he will need an invitation to be part of the main draw, as he is currently far from the competitive level demanded by major tournaments.

Meanwhile, Michael Zheng continues to establish himself as one of the most promising young Americans. His victory over Nishikori brings him closer to the final draw in Montreal and confirms a clearly upward trend for a player who continues to gain confidence.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nishikori cae con estrépito en la fase previa de Montreal