Nishikori pulls out of Cincinnati Masters

World No. 4 Kei Nishikori has pulled out of the Western & Southern Open for a second year running.

While he hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam this year, he certainly would have been expected to be a factor at the U.S. Open in two weeks.

The 25-year-old was knocked out of last week’s Rogers Cup in the semi-finals, with Britain’s new world number two Andy Murray proving too good in Montreal. “I played five matches in Washington and played four matches in Montreal”.

He adds: “I played OK in Montreal, but every week is a different test – a different story”.

“My leg was sore the last couple of days”. It got a little bit worse, so I couldn’t really move 100 percent.

He said: “I’ve never injured that part of the body but I expect to get better in a week”.

Asia’s top player said he would take a rest prior to the start of the U.S. Open which begins August 31. I think it’s going to take one week or so.