ATP Tokyo: Taylor Fritz Claims Maiden Title After Nishikori Withdrawal Due to Injury

Fritz Wins Tokyo Title Without Hitting a Ball

Taylor Fritz has claimed his maiden ATP Tour title after his opponent Kei Nishikori withdrew from the Tokyo final due to injury.

Nishikori was forced to pull out of the match after suffering a right shoulder injury during his semi-final victory over Miomir Kecmanovic.

Fritz, who had never previously reached an ATP final, was due to face Nishikori in the final on Sunday.

The withdrawal of Nishikori is a major blow for the Japanese player, who was hoping to win his first ATP title since 2019.

Nishikori, a former world number four, has been struggling with injuries in recent years.

In 2021, he underwent surgery on his right hip and missed the second half of the season.

For Fritz, the victory in Tokyo is a huge breakthrough in his career.

The American, who is currently ranked 31st in the world, has been in impressive form in recent months.

He reached the semi-finals of the US Open in August and won the ATP 250 title in San Diego last month.

Fritz will now turn his attention to the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin.

The 25-year-old has qualified for the season-ending tournament for the first time in his career.

Nishikori, meanwhile, will be hoping to recover from his injury in time for the Davis Cup Finals, which will be held in Malaga from November 22-27.