Kei Nishikori is stepping up to take full responsibility for his actions. Just a week after he was reportedly spotted paying a visit to model Azuki Oguchi at her Japanese apartment, the Olympic bronze medalist has addressed the online rumors suggesting he had betrayed his wife, Mei Yamaguchi.
In a June 18 statement to Japanese magazine Shukan Bunshun, Nishikori, who shares two children with his wife of five years, expressed his heartfelt apologies. "I offer my deepest apologies to all who have supported me: tennis fans, associations, sponsors, and all associated parties. I also apologize for the concern and inconvenience caused by my dishonest behavior," he said. He further added, "I deeply regret causing pain to my wife and children."
Beyond his apology, the 35-year-old athlete emphasized his dedication to becoming a better person and athlete moving forward. "In order to fulfill my role as a responsible member of society, I will focus solely on tennis competitions and striving for excellent results," he continued. "We will do everything in our power to regain their trust."
While Nishikori has typically kept his personal life out of the limelight, he happily shared the news of his and Mei's belated wedding celebration in December 2022, two years after they officially tied the knot amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. "I have something to announce to everyone," Nishikori posted on Instagram alongside a dreamy photo from the couple's celebration. "On December 24th, my wife Mei and I held our wedding ceremony and reception. We had been unable to hold the ceremony due to the pandemic, but we had so many people celebrating with us. Both Mei and I were deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support."
Now, Nishikori's apology comes less than a week after he withdrew from Wimbledon and the French Open due to lower back pain, despite being ranked 66th among his fellow professional athletes. Earlier this year, while competing at the Mutua Madrid Open, Nishikori celebrated a significant milestone by becoming the first Asian player and the eighth active player to achieve 450 career tour-level wins, according to the ATP Tour. After outlasting Aleksandar Vukic, he said, "I had no idea. I just try to focus on one match at a time. It's a lot, yes. I've been playing for 18 years now, and I hope I can reach 500 wins."
