Davis Cup World Group 1: Kei Nishikori to Play in First Domestic Match with Spectators in Six Years

The draw for the Davis Cup World Group 1 match between Japan and Colombia was held in Tokyo on the 13th. Kei Nishikori, who will be playing his first domestic match since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will play two singles matches and one doubles match over the two days, including against Mejia, ranked 237th in the world, on the 14th. This is his first domestic match with spectators in about six years, and he commented, “The Davis Cup is scary because you never know what’s going to happen.”

The press conference after the draw was full of Nishikori-esque style. The match was held with the retractable roof open. With the hot and humid conditions being extremely harsh, Nishikori jokingly said, “I hope it rains,” hoping that rain would close the roof. When the younger players, including Watanuki, showed their respect for him, he blushed and laughed. “I’ll be gone in a few years, but with Nishioka and (Daniel) Taro improving, I think the younger players will be able to improve as well,” he said, drawing laughter with his self-deprecating remarks, while expressing his hope for an improvement in the overall level.