Kei Nishikori confirms comeback at Puerto Rico Challenger

Kei Nishikori is all set to make his comeback on the professional tennis tour after more than two years of inaction.

The Japanese had been scheduled to make a return to the ATP Tour several times earlier this year but had to keep postponing due to unexpected setbacks in his comeback bids.

In his most recent update, Nishikori had assured fans that he was looking to make his comeback on the Challenger Tour at either Arkanas, Texas or Puerto Rico in June. With Arkansas and Texas out of the running, he later announced the Palmas del Mar Challenger in Puerto Rico as the site of his return.

"My training is going well. I am increasing my hitting both in timing and intensity. I have decided with my team however that the Little Rock and Tyler challengers are coming too fast and I will have to cancel them. The goal is to start in Palmas del Mar," Nishikori said.

While fans were waiting with bated breath to see if it would be another postponement, the 33-year-old has put such doubts to bed. Taking to Instagram on Saturday (June 10), Nishikori shared a picture of him on the way to Puerto Rico, confirming his participation in the Category 75 event.

"Excited! On the way to Puerto Rico!" Nishikori wrote.

A former World No. 4, Nishikori is currently unranked on the ATP Tour because of his prolonged absence.

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"I've been very depressed, I even thought about retiring" - Kei Nishikori

Nishikori hasn't played in more than two years.

In an interview late last year, Kei Nishikori admitted the mental agony of trying to make a comeback, saying that he was very depressed and even contemplated retirement.

"I have been very depressed in the last few months. I even thought about retiring. 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 racquet. Mentally, it's very complicated. Of course, I've been on the verge of retirement," Nishikori said.

At the time, Kei Nishikori had hoped he could return to full fitness by January or February and look to play on the main tour before the clay season. Unfortunately, things didn't go according to plan, and the 33-year-old will have to contend with the grass swing.

Kei Nishikori is not on the entry list for Wimbledon, for which he will have had to use a protected ranking. Considering that the Palmas del Mar Challenger is played on hardcourts, it's possible that the former World No. 4 is planning to sacrifice the grass season, too, and aim directly for the North American hardcourt swing after that.