Fragile Nishikori retires on grass – again

Another event on grass, and another retirement for top 10 star Kei Nishikori.

In what has become a terrible run in Halle, the Japanese player was forced to retire for the third year running at the Gerry Weber Open.

Trailing Russian young gun Karen Khachanov 3-2 in the first set of their second-round match, Nishikori pulled the pin, citing a left hip injury.

It's the 24th retirement or walkover of Nishikori's career.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 22, 2017

#NextGenATP's @KarenKhachanov reaches Halle QF — 3rd straight year Nishikori pulls out of Halle (2015 left leg, 2016 rib, 2017 left hip).

— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) June 22, 2017

Incredibly, Nishikori’s physical struggles are not confined to Halle.

The world No.9, seeded third this week at the German ATP 500 event, has been forced to retire from his past five matches on grass.

Kei last 5 losses on grass:

– Halle: retired – left leg
– Wimbledon: WO – calf
– Halle: WO – rib
– Wimbledon: RET – rib
– Halle: RET – hip

— Ardeal (@UnArdeal) June 22, 2017

In worrying signs for Nishikori, the injury comes less than two weeks out from Wimbledon, where he will be hoping to avoid a hat-trick of injury-related exits.

In the quarterfinals, Khachanov will face fellow Russian rising star Andrey Rublev.