Club to Honor Nishikori

The Club will honor Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori with its Sportsman of the Year award at a ceremony on December 1.

Established in 1989, the award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to sport in Japan.

Nishikori is Japan’s most successful tennis player and was ranked fifth in the world at the end of the 2014 season, the year he qualified for his first grand slam final at the US Open. The 25-year-old has won 10 ATP singles titles.

"Kei's tremendous 2014 season was topped off with a trip to the US Open final and his first appearance at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, where the top eight players compete. He has qualified for the World Tour Finals this year as well. Kei's success has also launched a resurgence in tennis in Japan. His impact, especially in Japan, is immeasurable," says JoAnn Yoneyama of the Club's Culture, Community and Entertainment Committee, which selected Nishikori for the award.

Past award recipients include sumo wrestler Konishiki (1991), baseball’s Ichiro Suzuki (1995), swimmer Kosuke Kitajima (2005), golfer Ryo Ishikawa (2011) and Olympic hammer thrower Koji Murofushi (2014).