ATP: Kei Nishikori:”I’ve never had such terrible pain before.”

Kei Nishikori spoke about his injury break during one of his rare visits to Japan in an interview. His wrist had caused unbelievable pain and for a long time it was not clear what the best treatment could look like.

“I’ve never felt such pain before,”Nishikori told Nikkan Sports,”It felt like my wrist was ripping off.”

The 27-year-old had sustained his wrist injury in August during training at the Masters-1000 tournament in Cincinnati. The US Open finalist not only had to cancel the tournament in Ohio, he was also unable to compete in another tournament for the remainder of the season.

“At the beginning, I did a few examinations and I was told that the story would be finished in three weeks,”Nishikori continued.”Three or four doctors told me something about an operation, and that worried me.”

But a specialist from Antwerp, who once treated Kim Clijsters for a wrist injury, suggested an alternative therapy without surgery:”I also started to resume training at Clijster’s Academy,”said Nishikori,”but at the moment I only play with clubs weighing less than 200 grams.”

Former number four in the world will probably have to wait another two or three months for his return to the professional tour,”The doctors tell me that I shouldn’t be thinking about it at the moment (a comeback, note),”said Nishikori.

Coach Dante Bottini’s side has called for the Brisbane, Sydney and Australian Open tournaments, but a return to the first-round Davis Cup match against Italy at the beginning of February seems more likely. He is currently working on his comeback at the IMG Academy in Florida.