Tennis star Kei Nishikori has broken his silence following allegations of infidelity. The 35-year-old Olympian, who has been married to Mai Yamaguchi since 2020, addressed accusations that he had an affair with model Azuki Oguchi.
Nishikori shared his statement with the Japanese tabloid Shukan Bunshun, offering an apology and expressing regret for his actions.
Nishikori’s Apology and Regret
In his statement, Nishikori expressed deep remorse for causing discomfort to his fans, sponsors, and the broader tennis community. He also apologized to his wife and children for the pain his actions have caused them.
“I deeply apologize for causing discomfort to everyone who supports me: tennis fans, associations, sponsors, and other related parties, and for their concern and inconvenience due to my dishonest behavior,” he said.
He further added, “Additionally, I deeply regret making my wife and children feel hurt. Moving forward, in order to fulfill my role as a responsible member of society, I will focus solely on tennis competitions and achieving results. We will do everything possible to regain their trust.”
Despite the public apology, Nishikori has not yet commented on the matter through his social media channels. As of June 21, a contact for the tennis player had not responded to PEOPLE‘s request for further comment.
The Allegations and Public Scrutiny
The allegations of infidelity came after Nishikori was photographed visiting the apartment of model Azuki Oguchi in Japan. According to reports from Shukan Bunshun, the two first met in 2022 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
This led to rumors of an affair, especially as Nishikori and his wife had a wedding ceremony in 2022, after initially being unable to hold one due to COVID-19 restrictions. Nishikori shared on Instagram at the time that they had officially celebrated their marriage, calling it “another new start for us.”
Nishikori’s recent actions have brought his personal life into the public eye, overshadowing his accomplishments on the tennis court. However, he has expressed a strong commitment to focusing on his career and rebuilding trust with his family.
Nishikori’s Career and Current Status
As a professional tennis player, Nishikori is currently ranked No. 66 in the world, according to both ESPN and the ATP Tour. He was forced to withdraw from both the French Open and Wimbledon this year, citing injury concerns.
Despite recent challenges, Nishikori achieved a career milestone earlier this year, becoming the eighth active player—and the first Asian player—to earn 450 career tour-level wins following a victory at the Mutua Madrid Open in April.
Reflecting on this accomplishment, Nishikori expressed surprise at the achievement, saying, “I had no idea. I just try to play one match at a time. It’s a lot, yes… I have played for 18 years now, hopefully I can reach 500 [wins].”
Moving Forward
As Nishikori continues to navigate both his personal and professional challenges, the tennis world will be watching to see how he rebounds. His focus on regaining his family’s trust and his dedication to his career in tennis suggest that he is determined to move forward, both as a player and a responsible individual.
