Kei Nishikori shares glimpses of intense training session ahead of impending comeback

If Kei Nishikori's recent practice session is anything to go by, the Japanese tennis star doesn't seem far away from making a comeback on the ATP tour. Nishikori was seen partaking in an intense hitting session on a hard-court back home, just days after sharing glimpses of a practice session on clay.

Nishikori has not played since October 2021 and is reportedly said to be targeting a comeback during the upcoming claycourt season. However, the 33-year-old has not officially set a date for his comeback.

In a recent video that Nishikori himself shared on social media, he was seen running from side to side and covering the court as well as he could while smashing a few forehands and backhands.

Kei Nishikori trains ahead of the claycourt season (via Instagram).

Last week, Nishikori took to a clay-court back home and said that he was taking things 'one step at a time,' suggesting progress.

The 2014 US Open finalist shared his recent fitness update while the rest of the tour is competing at Indian Wells, which was incidentally the last tournament he played in before being sidelined. Nishikori lost to Dan Evans in the second round of the 2021 Indian Wells in October, before ending his season due to a hip injury.

He then announced plans for hip surgery at the start of the 2022 season, with an initial target of making a comeback in six months. However, he was hit with more setbacks, rendering him unable to return even at the start of the ongoing season.

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How a meeting with Roger Federer inspired Kei Nishikori to make a comeback

Kei Nishikori and Roger Federer at The Championships - Wimbledon 2019.

Kei Nishikori contemplated retirement at one stage last season, owing to the constant frustration of prolonged rehabilitation due to his hip injury. However, meeting Roger Federer at an event late last year inspired Nishikori to keep working hard on making a comeback. Nishikori opened up about the same during the 'UNIQLO LifeWear Day Tokyo 2022 with Roger Federer' event in November.

"I have been very depressed in the last few months, I even thought about retiring," Nishikori admitted, as per Punto de Break. "From July to September I was in rehabilitation at home. It's three months when I can't play tennis, I can't even take a racket. Mentally, it's very complicated. Of course, I've been on the verge of retirement."

"When I saw Roger, I finally thought that I can continue playing tennis over 30 years of age," he added.

Nishikori last won a tour-level singles title back in 2019 at the Brisbane Open, his 12th career title. The Japanese star is currently outside the rankings place as he closes in on 18 months of inactivity on the tour.