Japanese tennis star caught cheating on his wife of five years with a model issues awkward apology - days after withdrawing from Wimbledon
Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori has reportedly issued an apology after being caught cheating on his wife of five years with a 21-year-old model, as per outlets in Japan.
The former world No4 is the only Japanese man to have ranked in the top-five in singles in the Open Era, reaching the final of the US Open in 2014.
The 35-year-old is one of the ATP Tour veterans but has struggled with persistent injury this season that has forced him to withdraw from both the French Open, and Wimbledon.
Just two days after his withdrawal from the Championships however, Nishikori was forced to issue a public statement surrounding matters off the court.
As per Shukan Bunshun, the world No61 is alleged to have had his years-long affair with Azuki Oguchi uncovered after he was photographed visiting her apartment.
Nishikori married his wife Mai Yamaguchi - who is also known by her nickname Ako Mizuki in Japan - in 2020, five years after their relationship started.
The couple celebrated another wedding free from Covid-19 restrictions in 2022 - the same year that Nishikori is alleged to have begun seeing Oguchi.
'I deeply apologise 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,' Nishikori said in a statement this week.
'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.'
As per the Japanese outlet, Nishikori and Oguchi met up in Honolulu just days before his 2022 wedding to Yamaguchi.
A year later, Oguchi was alleged to have been confronted by her then-boyfriend over the relationship, with the unnamed partner also speaking to Nishikori after finding evidence of their relationship.
The outlet claims that Nishikori engaged a lawyer in order to mediate and avoid a public scandal, with his relationship with Oguchi coming to an end shortly after.
After allegedly resuming the affair last year, Nishikori is said to have told Oguchi that he 'no longer loves his wife' and that they are solely together for the sake of their children, aged four and under one year old.
Nishikori and Oguchi were photographed together in pictures published by the outlet outside of the latter's apartment last week.
The 35-year-old will hope to return to court ahead of the scene of his greatest Grand Slam achievement, the US Open in Flushing Meadows.
Before his chance in SW19 was derailed by injury, the player had been enjoying a purple patch, reaching the final of the Hong Kong open at the start of the year.
Nishikori also achieved his 450th career win on clay at the Madrid Open in April, becoming the first Asian player to do so, and only the eighth active man on the tour to have secured the honour.
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