ACAPULCO, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 27: Kei Nishikori of Japan serves during a match between Kei Nishikori of Japan and Denis Shapovalov of Canada as part of the Telcel Mexican Open 2018 at Mextenis Stadium on February 27, 2018 in Acapulco, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori has withdrawn from the Indian Wells Masters due to “illness”. According to some sources, however, Kei had been suffering from the flu for over ten days before the tournament began. The Japanese player was scheduled to meet Leonardo Mayer from Argentina in his second round match. Mayer now faces Ruben Bemelmans, who now enters the draw as a lucky loser. The winner of the match might meet Novak Djokovic in the third round.

A sigh of Relief for Djokovic?

In his first tournament since the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic was looking to have a difficult path with a potential matchup with Nishikori in the next round. With a withdrawal from Nishikori, some of the pressure might have lifted as Novak tries to get back on the tour. The tenth seed faces a different Japanese player in the second round by the name of Taro Daniel, who qualified into the main draw to get to the second round.

What Does This Mean for Nishikori?

While the exact details are still a little unclear, the reason for his withdrawal isn’t injury related, so there seems to be little to worry about regarding his fitness and physical health.

Expect Nishikori to play the Miami Masters, which starts on the 20th of March. However, Nishikori now loses the Quarter-finalist points he was defending from last year, which might be a setback in his comeback into the tour after his struggles with his wrist that sidelined him for over 6 months after his campaign in Montreal ended in his first match against Gael Monfils.

Hopefully, Nishikori isn’t sidelined further this season after what happened last year. The Florida native has had several issues with injuries, and while this isn’t an injury, one can never be sure with Kei. Here’s to a speedy recovery for the Asian Superstar!