The final of the 2014 Mutua Madrid Open 2014 would eventually see Rafa Nadal claim his third title in Madrid. However, there was a 24-year-old out there playing the tennis of his life, who for over an hour managed to outfox the best clay player in the history of the game. Kei Nishikori won the first set of the final 6-2 with some sublime tennis. He was on the way to his first Masters 1000 title in the Manolo Santana Stadium. But Rafa responded and the Japanese picked up an injury that forced him to retire midway through set three.
Eleven years later, Kei is still fighting away on the circuit. On Thursday he notched up his 450th tour victory. He is the eighth active player with the most wins and the first Asian to reach the mark in the Open Era. Nishikori is back in the Spanish capital for the ninth time and this is his first visit since 2021. He celebrated the occasion with a closely-contested three-set win over Alexander Vukic. Nishikori’s face still lights up when he talks about his experience in 2014: “I have great memories of that year”, he told ATP this week. “I remember that I had a good battle with Raonic, and then I beat Ferrer, a Spaniard in Spain, to reach the final. I wasn’t able to get it done in the final, but I have great memories of Madrid. I love this city and I feel good coming back here. I’m excited to play this week, feeling fit again”.
The 35-year-old is still alive and kicking and as determined as ever. Despite all the heartache. Since his last outing in Madrid in 2021, the former world number four has been hampered by a series of physical problems that have tested his endurance to the limit. The former US Open finalist has had to deal with injury after injury, undergoing hip surgery in 2022, before facing issues with his right ankle and his left knee in 2023. He then suffered a groin injury and continues to have problems with his shoulder.
However, in August last year, a fit Nishikori reminded the world of his quality. He reached his first quarter-finals at a Masters 1000 in five years in Montreal, and backed it up with a quarterfinal at the ATP 500 in Tokyo. “You have to try and be patient, otherwise it’s very difficult”, said Nishikori of his return. “I’ve done that, and I’ve got used to that journey, the battle. My body is not the strongest, I know. So I have to take care of it well. I know what I have to do when I’m injured. Rehabilitation, recovery, and try not to think too much. It’s important to be positive and patient. That’s what I’ve learnt. Now I just enjoy playing”.
Another player who certainly enjoys himself on court is Gael Monfils, who seems unaffected by the passing of the years. On Wednesday in Madrid, the Frenchman defeated Croatia’s Borna Gojo. After trailing by a set, he proved that quality is permanent by coming back to take the spoils. The result makes him the oldest player to claim a win at the Mutua Madrid Open at 38 years and 7 months of age.
‘La Monf’ was back to winning ways earlier this season with a triumph in Auckland, two years after his last title. His best results in Madrid are the quarterfinals he reached twice, in 2008 and 2010. While Nishikori will be looking for a spot among the last 32 against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov, Monfils will do the same against Andrey Rublev, Madrid’s defending champion. If one thing is for certain, they will keep fighting until the last. Old rockers never die, and these two will certainly not be going anywhere without a fight.
