In 2014, a 24-year-old Kei Nishikori stood on the edge of history, chasing his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown at the Mutua Madrid Open. He carved through the Top 5 giants, Milos Raonic and David Ferrer, only for injury and Rafael Nadal to shatter the fairytale in the final. It was one of those brutal heartbreaks that remind us how cruel sport can be. “I’ve got used to the journey, the struggle. My body is not the strongest, I know that, so I have to really take care of it,” he said this year. Yet Kei, a warrior from the Big 3 era, still inspires, just ask Carlos Alcaraz .

Carlos Alcaraz walked into his pre-match press conference at the Japan Open with the calm swagger of a man ready for battle, yet when asked about Kei Nishikori, his tone softened into admiration. “I love

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