A couple of weeks ago, the grass-court season kicked off in preparation for the majestic Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year that will be without Kei Nishikori, a veteran Japanese tennis star who announced his withdrawal from the tournament almost at the same time as confessing his infidelity to his wife in an open letter.
Nishikori married his longtime partner, Mai Yamauchi, in December 2020. They had been together since 2015 and were reportedly in a stable, private relationship. The couple had two children: one born in May 2021 and the second in 2024. Two years after their marriage, they celebrated their wedding with a ceremony and reception in December 2022.
How did Kei Nishikori, 66th in the ATP rankings, begin his infidelity?
According to a report by Shukan Bunshun, Nishikori had already begun an affair with model Oguchi Azuki in 2022. They allegedly connected for the first time in Hawaii during a tour stop, where he reportedly became close to her. On the night of June 11, 2025, Nishikori was reportedly spotted visiting Azuki’s apartment.
Faced with mounting speculation and backlash, Kei Nishikori issued a public apology, according to Bunshun, stating, “I deeply apologize for hurting my wife, my children, and each of my parents. From now on, I will focus exclusively on tennis competitions and achieving results,” he stated.
This is why Kei Nishikori won’t play Wimbledon:
Just two weeks before the third major of the season at the All England Club, Nishikori withdrew from the tournament due to another injury. He missed the Estoril tournament, the Rome Masters, and Roland Garros. He also withdrew in the middle of his match at the Geneva ATP Championships due to a shoulder injury.
After reaching the peak of his career by reaching the 2014 US Open final and rising to a career-high No. 4 in 2015, his career-high, Kei Nishikori’s career has been marred by injuries. A persistent wrist problem kept him off the tour for extended periods and caused a sharp drop in his ranking.
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