Former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori was named on the ATP men's singles main draw entry list for tennis' U.S. Open on Wednesday, making him eligible to play in his first Grand Slam since the 2021 U.S. Open.
The tournament opens on Aug. 28 in New York. Although he is currently ranked 438th in the world after a long injury layoff, the men's and women's tours can assign "protected rankings" to players unable to compete for six months due to physical injury.
The 33-year-old Japanese underwent hip surgery in January 2022 and subsequently injured his right ankle while rehabilitating. He won his first comeback tournament in June at the Caribbean Open, an ATP Challenger Tour event in Puerto Rico.
Nishikori has since played in two more Challenger Tour events in the mainland United States. He is set to play at the Atlanta Open, an ATP 250 event from July 24, in his first tour appearance since October 2021.
Nishikori was joined in the U.S. Open men's singles entry list by compatriot Yoshihito Nishioka, who reached the last 16 at this year's Australian and French opens.
Women's two-time winner Naomi Osaka is absent this season following the birth of her first child.
