Nishikori's Tokyo Farewell Draw Pits Him Against Tiafoe as Tennis's Asian Swing Gets Going

The ATP and WTA tours have arrived in East Asia, and the first big story of the swing is an emotional one. Japan's Kei Nishikori, who will retire at the end of the 2026 season, has drawn second seed Frances Tiafoe in the first round of his final Kinoshita Group Japan Open in Tokyo.

The draw was made on Monday, 28 September, with qualifying under way ahead of the main draw.

Nishikori's last Tokyo run

Nishikori, 36, announced earlier this year that 2026 would be his final season on tour. He retires as one of Asia's greatest tennis players:

• Career-high ranking of world No. 4
• 12 ATP singles titles
• First Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam singles final, at the 2014 US Open
• Bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Japan's first Olympic tennis medal in 96 years

Tokyo has been a happy hunting ground. The ATP Tour says Nishikori has a 24-9 record at the event, won the title in 2012 and 2014 and reached the 2018 final. His last appearance, in 2024, ended in a quarter-final defeat to Holger Rune.

When he announced his retirement, Nishikori said he still wished he could continue but could proudly say he had given it his all, according to Tennis.com.

His opening opponent is a tough one. Tiafoe reached his third US Open semi-final this year.

Alcaraz defends in Tokyo

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz opens against American Alex Michelsen, a US Open quarter-finalist this year. Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are in his half, while 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, seeded fifth, is ninth in the race for the ATP Finals. Holger Rune returns to the tour after the Achilles injury he suffered in October 2025.

The ATP lists the main draw from Wednesday, 30 September, with the singles final on Tuesday, 6 October, at Ariake. The singles champion collects 500 ranking points.

Djokovic back in Beijing

At the China Open, top seed and newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev is on course for a possible quarter-final with Novak Djokovic. The Serbian has won Beijing six times with a perfect 29-0 record there and is playing the event for the first time since 2015.

First-round matches include Zverev against Cameron Norrie and Djokovic against Nuno Borges. Jannik Sinner, last year's champion, is not playing, and wildcard Shang Juncheng and Bu Yunchaokete fly the flag for China.

Zheng leads China's women

The WTA 1000 event in Beijing has a 96-player draw, with the top 32 seeds receiving first-round byes. Elena Rybakina is the top seed, ahead of Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. Amanda Anisimova is the defending champion.

Home interest centres on Zheng Qinwen, the Paris 2024 Olympic champion, who leads a group of Chinese wildcards that also includes Yuan Yue, Zhu Lin, Sun Xinran and Gao Xinyu. The women's champion will earn 1,000 ranking points.

Why it matters for Asian fans

With Tokyo and Beijing running side by side, this is one of the busiest weeks of the year for tennis in Asia, and it will be the last chance for Japanese fans to see Nishikori play at home.

Key takeaways

• Kei Nishikori plays second seed Frances Tiafoe in the first round of his final Japan Open.
• Nishikori won the Tokyo title in 2012 and 2014 and retires at the end of 2026.
• Djokovic returns to the China Open for the first time since 2015 and is unbeaten there in 29 matches.
• Zheng Qinwen headlines a group of Chinese wildcards in the Beijing women's draw.

FAQ

Who does Kei Nishikori play at the Japan Open? Second seed Frances Tiafoe of the United States, in the first round.

Is this Nishikori's last Japan Open? Yes. The tournament has confirmed it is his final appearance, and he has said he will retire at the end of the 2026 season.

Is Jannik Sinner playing the China Open? No. The ATP Tour says the defending champion is not playing in Beijing this year.

Sources: ATP Tour, WTA, Tennis.com, Kinoshita Group Japan Open