Former world number four, Kei Nishikori, had his best performance since returning to the pro tour at the Atlanta Open making the quarterfinals; eventually losing to Taylor Fritz. This is his best result after undergoing hip surgery back in February of 2022.
I do have concerns about him re-injuring himself. His footwork has not changed. In fact, he is already nursing a knee and ankle injury, which is the result of compensating for the movement of his right hip. On his forehand, his movement is not recruiting the kinetic chain. He continues to rotate his lower extremities, which puts significant pressure on his left knee. These are not good signs for his health with the hard-core season in full swing leading up to the U.S open.
I extend the professional caution to his team and to him . His joints are quite fragile. Continued use of the improper technique will exacerbate all his injuries. I really like Kei. He has worked hard to get back in the game. My biggest fear is without adjusting his technique his next injury might be career ending. I wish him all the best.
If you have questions questions about the proper technique to use after returning from hip surgery, contact me at andre@tempotennis.net.
Tempo Tennis. Every step counts!