H2H data updated: 2026-09-08 00:00 UTC

Kei Nishikori vs Rafael Nadal H2H: 2-12

Rafael Nadal holds a 12–2 lead over Kei Nishikori in their ATP head-to-head. Across 14 main-draw meetings, Rafael Nadal leads 6–0 on clay and 4–2 on hard courts. Most recently, Rafael Nadal won the 2021 Barcelona Open third round 6-0 2-6 6-2.

Japan Age 36 Right-Handed 178 cm / 5'10"
H2H
2 12
14 main-draw meetings
ESP Age 40 Left-Handed 185 cm / 6'1"

H2H Match Log

PlayerScorePlayerMatch DataDateRoundTournamentCategorySurface
Rafael Nadal #3 6-0 2-6 6-2 Kei Nishikori #39 Match data Apr 23, 2021* R16 Barcelona Open ATP 500 Clay
Rafael Nadal #2 6-1 6-1 6-3 Kei Nishikori #7 Match data Jun 6, 2019* QF Roland Garros Grand Slam Clay
Rafael Nadal #1 6-3 6-2 Kei Nishikori #36 Match data Apr 22, 2018* F Monte-Carlo Masters Masters 1000 Clay
Kei Nishikori #7 6-2 6-7(1) 6-3 Rafael Nadal #5 Match data Aug 14, 2016* BR Rio de Janeiro Olympics Olympics Hard
Rafael Nadal #5 6-4 7-5 Kei Nishikori #6 Match data Apr 24, 2016* F Barcelona Open ATP 500 Clay
Rafael Nadal #5 6-4 6-3 Kei Nishikori #6 Match data Mar 18, 2016* QF Indian Wells Open Masters 1000 Hard
Kei Nishikori #4 6-2 6-4 Rafael Nadal #9 Match data Aug 15, 2015* QF Canadian Open Masters 1000 Hard
Rafael Nadal #1 2-6 6-4 3-0 (ret.) Kei Nishikori #12 Match data May 11, 2014* F Madrid Open Masters 1000 Clay
Rafael Nadal #1 7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(3) Kei Nishikori #17 Match data Jan 21, 2014* R16 Australian Open Grand Slam Hard
Rafael Nadal #4 6-4 6-1 6-3 Kei Nishikori #15 Match data Jun 4, 2013* R16 Roland Garros Grand Slam Clay
Rafael Nadal #2 6-4 6-4 Kei Nishikori #16 Match data Mar 28, 2012* R16 Miami Open Masters 1000 Hard
Rafael Nadal #1 6-4 6-4 Kei Nishikori #62 Match data Mar 26, 2011* R64 Miami Open Masters 1000 Hard
Rafael Nadal #1 6-2 6-4 6-4 Kei Nishikori #189 Match data Jun 23, 2010* R128 Wimbledon Grand Slam Grass
Rafael Nadal #2 6-4 3-6 6-3 Kei Nishikori #113 Match data Jun 13, 2008* R16 Queen's Club Championships International Series modern equivalent ATP 250 Grass

Estimated match date where the exact historical date is unavailable. Arrows show an edition's recorded category and documented modern equivalent; unresolved editions keep their recorded category. Asterisked totals include editions mapped from documented historical predecessor categories. Mapping details.

Career Comparison

Player Current Peak Pts Elo W L Win % GS Olympics 1000 including documented historical predecessor categories Finals 500 including documented historical predecessor categories 250 including documented historical predecessor categories Titles
Kei Nishikori #481 #4 6,385 2,275 436 232 65.3% 0 0 0 0 6 6 12
Rafael Nadal #175 #1 15,390 2,503 1,056 228 82.2% 22 1 36 0 23 10 92

Career Progression by Age

Seasons are aligned by the age each player spent most of that calendar year. GS and Titles are cumulative career totals through that season.

Age Kei Nishikori Rafael Nadal
YrW-LWin %RankEloGSTitles YrW-LWin %RankEloGSTitles
16 2002 1–1 50.0% #200 1,508 0 0
17 2007 3–5 37.5% #286 1,576 0 0 2003 14–11 56.0% #49 1,640 0 0
18 2008 16–11 59.3% #63 1,758 0 1 2004 27–17 61.4% #51 1,744 0 1
19 2009 3–6 33.3% #418 1,723 0 1 2005 77–10 88.5% #2 2,156 1 12
20 2010 3–9 25.0% #98 1,735 0 1 2006 58–12 82.9% #2 2,129 2 17
21 2011 32–22 59.3% #25 1,923 0 1 2007 71–15 82.6% #2 2,154 3 23
22 2012 35–18 66.0% #19 2,007 0 2 2008 79–11 87.8% #1 2,271 5 31
23 2013 34–19 64.2% #17 1,946 0 3 2009 64–14 82.1% #2 2,182 6 36
24 2014 52–15 77.6% #5 2,211 0 7 2010 71–10 87.7% #1 2,294 9 43
25 2015 51–17 75.0% #8 2,153 0 10 2011 64–15 81.0% #2 2,257 10 46
26 2016 57–21 73.1% #5 2,183 0 11 2012 42–7 85.7% #4 2,345 11 50
27 2017 30–14 68.2% #22 2,080 0 11 2013 75–7 91.5% #1 2,439 13 60
28 2018 43–21 67.2% #9 2,107 0 11 2014 49–11 81.7% #3 2,269 14 64
29 2019 29–14 67.4% #13 2,002 0 12 2015 60–20 75.0% #5 2,234 14 67
30 2020 2–4 33.3% #41 1,912 0 12 2016 40–15 72.7% #9 2,133 14 69
31 2021 27–16 62.8% #47 1,978 0 12 2017 67–12 84.8% #1 2,309 16 75
32 2018 43–4 91.5% #2 2,351 17 80
33 2023 2–1 66.7% #352 1,968 0 12 2019 54–9 85.7% #1 2,378 19 84
34 2024 7–9 43.8% #106 1,871 0 12 2020 23–5 82.1% #2 2,319 20 86
35 2025 9–9 50.0% #156 1,814 0 12 2021 24–5 82.8% #6 2,278 20 88
36 2026 1–1 50.0% #481 1,770 0 12 2022 40–9 81.6% #2 2,229 22 92
37 2023 1–1 50.0% #670 2,189 22 92
38 2024 12–7 63.2% #153 2,066 22 92

Surface Results by Age

Seasons are aligned by the age each player spent most of that calendar year. Results cover completed main-draw matches. Bold green marks the higher win percentage when both players have at least 5 matches on that surface at the aligned age.

Age Kei Nishikori Rafael Nadal
Yr HardClayGrassCarpet Yr HardClayGrassCarpet
W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win % W L M Win %
16 2002 1 1 2 50.0%
17 2007 3 5 8 37.5% 2003 1 2 3 33.3% 11 6 17 64.7% 2 1 3 66.7% 0 2 2 0.0%
18 2008 14 7 21 66.7% 0 1 1 0.0% 2 3 5 40.0% 2004 14 10 24 58.3% 12 4 16 75.0% 1 3 4 25.0%
19 2009 3 6 9 33.3% 2005 28 6 34 82.4% 48 2 50 96.0% 1 2 3 33.3%
20 2010 2 5 7 28.6% 1 1 2 50.0% 0 3 3 0.0% 2006 26 10 36 72.2% 24 0 24 100.0% 8 2 10 80.0%
21 2011 22 14 36 61.1% 7 5 12 58.3% 3 3 6 50.0% 2007 32 12 44 72.7% 31 1 32 96.9% 8 2 10 80.0%
22 2012 21 11 32 65.6% 7 4 11 63.6% 7 3 10 70.0% 2008 45 10 55 81.8% 22 1 23 95.7% 12 0 12 100.0%
23 2013 24 13 37 64.9% 8 4 12 66.7% 2 2 4 50.0% 2009 42 12 54 77.8% 22 2 24 91.7%
24 2014 37 11 48 77.1% 10 2 12 83.3% 5 2 7 71.4% 2010 40 9 49 81.6% 22 0 22 100.0% 9 1 10 90.0%
25 2015 33 12 45 73.3% 14 3 17 82.4% 4 2 6 66.7% 2011 31 11 42 73.8% 25 2 27 92.6% 8 2 10 80.0%
26 2016 40 15 55 72.7% 13 4 17 76.5% 4 2 6 66.7% 2012 17 4 21 81.0% 23 1 24 95.8% 2 2 4 50.0%
27 2017 15 6 21 71.4% 12 6 18 66.7% 3 2 5 60.0% 2013 37 4 41 90.2% 38 2 40 95.0% 0 1 1 0.0%
28 2018 27 14 41 65.9% 11 5 16 68.8% 5 2 7 71.4% 2014 21 6 27 77.8% 25 3 28 89.3% 3 2 5 60.0%
29 2019 15 8 23 65.2% 10 5 15 66.7% 4 1 5 80.0% 2015 29 12 41 70.7% 26 6 32 81.3% 5 2 7 71.4%
30 2020 2 4 6 33.3% 2016 18 10 28 64.3% 22 5 27 81.5%
31 2021 17 10 27 63.0% 8 4 12 66.7% 2 2 4 50.0% 2017 40 10 50 80.0% 24 1 25 96.0% 3 1 4 75.0%
32 2018 14 2 16 87.5% 24 1 25 96.0% 5 1 6 83.3%
33 2023 2 1 3 66.7% 2019 28 5 33 84.8% 21 3 24 87.5% 5 1 6 83.3%
34 2024 6 6 12 50.0% 1 2 3 33.3% 0 1 1 0.0% 2020 14 4 18 77.8% 9 1 10 90.0%
35 2025 6 6 12 50.0% 3 3 6 50.0% 2021 5 2 7 71.4% 19 3 22 86.4%
36 2026 1 1 2 50.0% 2022 25 6 31 80.6% 10 2 12 83.3% 5 1 6 83.3%
37 2023 1 1 2 50.0%
38 2024 2 1 3 66.7% 10 6 16 62.5%
Career 288 151 439 65.6% 107 53 160 66.9% 41 28 69 59.4% 510 149 659 77.4% 469 53 522 89.8% 76 21 97 78.4% 1 5 6 16.7%

Performance Progression by Age

Seasons are aligned by the age each player spent most of that calendar year. Detailed serve and return statistics available for 643/668 of Kei Nishikori's and 1,250/1,284 of Rafael Nadal's main draw matches. Sample is shown as matches with detailed serve and return statistics / total main draw matches. Bold green marks the stronger value when both stat samples contain at least 5 matches; lower is better for DFs/M.

Age Kei Nishikori Rafael Nadal
Yr Sample Aces/M DFs/M 1st Sv% 1st Pts% 2nd Pts% BP Saved% BP Conv% Svc Pts% Ret Pts% Yr Sample Aces/M DFs/M 1st Sv% 1st Pts% 2nd Pts% BP Saved% BP Conv% Svc Pts% Ret Pts%
16 —/— 2002 2/2 0.5 0.5 86.2% 59.1% 31.4% 61.1% 71.4% 55.0% 39.8%
17 2007 8/8 3.0 3.5 58.6% 69.8% 47.8% 60.4% 48.1% 60.9% 35.4% 2003 24/25 1.5 1.9 71.3% 67.9% 53.6% 63.8% 47.9% 63.8% 40.4%
18 2008 25/27 3.2 2.9 59.9% 69.1% 50.9% 57.2% 45.4% 61.8% 37.4% 2004 43/44 1.3 2.0 70.1% 68.4% 54.4% 58.3% 46.4% 64.1% 41.2%
19 2009 9/9 2.8 3.1 53.7% 64.6% 49.4% 39.4% 45.3% 57.3% 37.7% 2005 87/87 2.5 1.5 68.7% 72.6% 58.1% 61.2% 50.5% 68.2% 46.4%
20 2010 12/12 3.1 4.0 60.3% 64.3% 43.5% 45.8% 23.0% 56.4% 33.0% 2006 69/70 3.5 1.6 68.8% 72.1% 57.4% 68.1% 47.6% 67.4% 41.6%
21 2011 54/54 2.5 2.9 60.7% 68.5% 52.4% 59.5% 39.7% 62.0% 38.2% 2007 85/86 2.8 1.5 67.7% 73.9% 57.7% 66.0% 45.9% 68.8% 42.6%
22 2012 48/53 2.4 2.6 62.6% 70.0% 53.6% 55.2% 39.9% 63.6% 41.4% 2008 84/90 3.1 1.3 69.4% 72.5% 59.4% 61.3% 48.2% 68.6% 43.4%
23 2013 53/53 2.6 2.8 62.3% 68.9% 52.2% 55.7% 47.2% 62.6% 40.6% 2009 76/78 2.9 1.3 67.0% 71.9% 57.7% 60.9% 48.9% 67.3% 43.9%
24 2014 66/67 4.3 2.8 60.6% 73.4% 53.9% 63.1% 42.6% 65.6% 39.9% 2010 81/81 3.8 1.5 67.1% 76.4% 60.1% 62.3% 49.0% 70.9% 41.7%
25 2015 66/68 4.6 2.5 59.6% 74.7% 54.5% 62.3% 44.7% 66.6% 39.3% 2011 78/79 3.4 1.6 67.2% 73.0% 58.5% 61.2% 50.2% 68.1% 44.0%
26 2016 71/78 3.4 2.4 61.0% 72.3% 53.9% 64.1% 47.7% 65.1% 40.2% 2012 48/49 3.3 1.2 67.4% 76.1% 57.9% 69.4% 51.0% 70.2% 46.0%
27 2017 43/44 3.3 2.3 62.3% 71.9% 53.3% 64.2% 45.5% 64.9% 40.7% 2013 81/82 2.7 1.5 69.2% 73.8% 58.2% 69.7% 49.9% 68.8% 43.2%
28 2018 64/64 3.6 2.3 60.0% 71.3% 55.9% 60.0% 44.8% 65.2% 37.8% 2014 59/60 3.1 1.5 70.0% 73.0% 57.0% 67.2% 51.3% 68.0% 44.9%
29 2019 43/43 3.1 2.8 63.6% 70.1% 54.2% 51.2% 45.0% 64.3% 40.9% 2015 80/80 2.8 2.1 68.0% 72.4% 55.4% 62.4% 43.3% 67.1% 41.6%
30 2020 6/6 1.2 2.5 63.5% 62.2% 50.7% 57.8% 31.4% 58.0% 37.8% 2016 47/55 2.2 1.6 71.0% 69.3% 54.7% 61.0% 47.3% 64.8% 44.1%
31 2021 37/43 2.5 2.0 64.2% 65.6% 55.3% 57.2% 45.2% 62.0% 38.5% 2017 77/79 3.7 1.6 67.5% 74.6% 63.0% 70.5% 44.6% 70.8% 44.0%
32 —/— 2018 47/47 2.6 1.9 65.5% 72.9% 60.7% 62.3% 49.0% 68.9% 45.6%
33 2023 3/3 1.7 1.3 67.5% 73.8% 53.6% 52.8% 16.7% 67.2% 29.9% 2019 59/63 4.6 2.0 64.8% 76.2% 60.5% 67.7% 47.1% 70.7% 43.3%
34 2024 15/16 2.1 1.7 66.6% 66.7% 55.0% 58.6% 39.7% 62.7% 36.1% 2020 28/28 4.6 1.8 62.8% 74.7% 60.9% 67.6% 54.4% 69.5% 44.6%
35 2025 18/18 3.2 1.9 65.6% 68.6% 47.6% 53.2% 35.9% 61.9% 35.2% 2021 29/29 4.0 2.7 64.0% 73.5% 55.3% 60.7% 46.4% 66.9% 44.7%
36 2026 2/2 2.0 1.0 60.0% 72.0% 55.5% 0.0% 11.0% 64.0% 32.0% 2022 47/49 4.8 3.6 65.2% 73.8% 55.8% 56.6% 48.5% 67.5% 42.0%
37 —/— 2023 2/2 6.0 2.5 64.6% 67.3% 49.9% 50.6% 50.0% 61.2% 36.8%
38 —/— 2024 17/19 2.1 1.7 69.1% 69.0% 53.5% 56.3% 43.7% 64.2% 40.2%
Career 643/668 3.3 2.6 61.5% 70.5% 53.3% 58.6% 43.3% 63.8% 39.1% 1,250/1,284 3.1 1.7 67.8% 73.1% 58.0% 63.9% 48.2% 68.2% 43.4%

Advanced Statistics Comparison by Age

Seasons are aligned by the age each player spent most of that calendar year. Metrics use eligible main-draw results; point statistics use matches with detailed data. Bold green marks the stronger value when both underlying samples are sufficient. Lower is better for Schedule because a negative value means a tougher schedule. Career Schedule is normalized per 100 matches.

Age Kei Nishikori Rafael Nadal
Yr Elo P+ Serve+ Return+ PD TPW% Hard Elo Clay Elo Grass Elo Set Win % Set Margin Dec. Set Tiebreak Pressure+ Schedule Yr Elo P+ Serve+ Return+ PD TPW% Hard Elo Clay Elo Grass Elo Set Win % Set Margin Dec. Set Tiebreak Pressure+ Schedule
16 2002 1508 101.2 +0.34 -2.99 0.884 48.1% 50.0% -1.00 +0.13
17 2007 1576 116.9 -2.68 -0.02 0.904 48.6% +35 38.9% -0.83 1–1 1–1 +0.05 2003 1641 140.0 +0.72 +2.04 1.116 52.2% -128 +81 -52 55.2% +0.40 1–5 (17%) 0–5 (0%) 94.2 +0.33
18 2008 1758 125.8 -0.30 +0.72 0.981 49.7% +19 -131 50.8% -0.10 8–2 (80%) 4–2 (67%) 108.5 +0.07 2004 1744 145.4 +1.37 +3.48 1.148 52.6% -75 +92 59.6% +0.69 4–8 (33%) 6–7 (46%) 97.7 +0.83
19 2009 1724 129.5 -3.16 +1.29 0.884 47.6% +12 35.3% -1.06 1–0 -0.98 2005 2156 168.1 +5.90 +8.66 1.457 56.7% -139 +157 -582 80.4% +2.06 15–6 (71%) 16–9 (64%) 112.1 +0.44
20 2010 1735 129.7 -2.46 -1.12 0.757 44.8% +5 -69 25.9% -1.74 2–1 (67%) 3–0 (100%) 105.5 -1.08 2006 2129 165.1 +5.41 +5.16 1.277 54.2% -128 +357 -277 76.4% +1.52 11–3 (79%) 20–12 (63%) 107.4 -2.20
21 2011 1923 151.1 -0.10 +1.28 1.007 50.3% +11 -301 -200 53.4% +0.20 14–3 (82%) 12–9 (57%) 113.8 +0.32 2007 2154 170.3 +6.23 +6.38 1.363 54.9% -117 +371 -123 77.6% +1.81 11–3 (79%) 13–9 (59%) 106.5 -1.58
22 2012 2007 156.0 +1.03 +3.76 1.139 52.0% +15 -248 -162 59.8% +0.79 15–4 (79%) 9–8 (53%) 111.3 +1.94 2008 2271 172.8 +5.78 +7.19 1.382 55.5% -113 +338 +31 81.7% +2.07 16–2 (89%) 22–10 (69%) 113.6 -1.34
23 2013 1946 158.7 -0.22 +3.58 1.086 51.5% +28 -64 -111 62.7% +0.75 6–4 (60%) 9–7 (56%) 102.6 +3.21 2009 2182 178.2 +4.87 +7.91 1.342 55.0% -15 +402 74.3% +1.61 13–2 (87%) 16–12 (57%) 105.0 +0.99
24 2014 2211 173.9 +2.73 +4.62 1.162 52.6% +18 -194 -285 68.2% +1.09 21–2 (91%) 19–10 (66%) 119.8 -0.99 2010 2295 174.6 +7.48 +6.14 1.437 55.7% -31 +354 +112 82.7% +1.96 12–7 (63%) 22–6 (79%) 104.5 +0.16
25 2015 2153 175.0 +2.66 +4.32 1.175 52.6% +22 +6 -165 69.5% +1.23 17–6 (74%) 9–12 (43%) 100.1 +2.30 2011 2257 176.9 +5.72 +8.05 1.379 55.4% -39 +410 +159 75.5% +1.65 10–6 (63%) 19–9 (68%) 99.2 -1.97
26 2016 2183 179.2 +2.13 +4.67 1.151 52.6% +16 +25 -149 69.4% +1.15 14–5 (74%) 16–9 (64%) 107.0 -1.29 2012 2345 178.2 +7.27 +8.98 1.545 57.5% -35 +358 -32 83.7% +2.37 3–3 (50%) 8–3 (73%) 100.1 -1.78
27 2017 2080 165.7 +1.81 +4.17 1.159 52.4% +66 +70 -116 63.6% +0.88 12–5 (71%) 9–10 (47%) 98.7 -0.06 2013 2440 183.0 +6.19 +7.44 1.386 55.7% +11 +306 82.6% +2.10 14–1 (93%) 18–7 (72%) 107.7 -1.01
28 2018 2107 171.3 +1.83 +2.94 1.086 51.5% +11 +66 -54 62.6% +0.63 12–5 (71%) 17–5 (77%) 109.4 -1.99 2014 2269 173.9 +4.79 +8.24 1.406 55.9% +44 +435 -117 74.3% +1.88 9–4 (69%) 12–12 (50%) 90.8 -0.59
29 2019 2002 158.4 +0.34 +4.57 1.145 52.3% +1 +149 +96 62.7% +0.73 8–6 (57%) 9–7 (56%) 95.3 +1.02 2015 2235 176.9 +3.33 +6.13 1.265 54.0% +41 +333 -122 70.0% +1.38 14–9 (61%) 15–12 (56%) 94.4 +1.00
30 2020 1913 109.6 -1.35 -0.42 0.900 47.5% +89 42.1% -0.95 1–2 (33%) 2–1 (67%) 96.6 +0.14 2016 2134 174.6 +2.22 +7.13 1.252 54.3% -34 +352 71.1% +1.59 9–6 (60%) 8–12 (40%) 92.3 -0.77
31 2021 1978 161.2 -0.40 +2.72 1.013 50.2% +38 +96 +56 55.2% +0.23 14–7 (67%) 9–8 (53%) 102.5 -2.26 2017 2310 181.5 +7.06 +8.36 1.508 56.6% -43 +222 -250 80.3% +2.13 9–5 (64%) 15–8 (65%) 101.8 -1.97
32 2018 2351 176.2 +5.50 +8.38 1.463 56.7% -81 +242 -202 86.9% +2.46 5–1 (83%) 10–5 (67%) 104.0 -0.45
33 2023 1968 114.7 +1.39 +0.98 0.912 49.4% +49 66.7% -0.17 3–0 (100%) -0.03 2019 2379 180.2 +6.55 +7.64 1.474 56.5% -40 +196 -148 82.9% +2.39 6–2 (75%) 10–6 (63%) 101.8 -0.66
34 2024 1872 134.6 -0.60 +0.92 0.967 49.3% +66 +121 45.0% -0.42 4–2 (67%) 2–2 (50%) 99.6 -0.17 2020 2319 171.0 +5.49 +6.57 1.461 56.8% -54 +222 79.7% +2.32 3–1 (75%) 7–6 (54%) 98.9 -0.41
35 2025 1814 129.1 -1.20 -0.68 0.924 48.6% +64 +99 47.6% -0.24 6–2 (75%) 2–2 (50%) 100.6 -1.30 2021 2279 165.5 +4.20 +7.79 1.347 55.7% -42 +275 76.5% +1.86 6–3 (67%) 3–3 (50%) 94.8 -0.99
36 2026 1771 106.9 +1.37 -0.66 0.889 47.0% 40.0% -0.60 1–0 0–1 -0.11 2022 2230 169.2 +3.67 +6.30 1.291 54.4% -30 +333 +92 73.9% +1.50 8–4 (67%) 12–5 (71%) 98.5 -0.71
37 2023 2190 111.8 +1.96 +1.40 0.950 49.3% 42.9% -0.14 -0.01
38 2024 2067 139.3 +0.62 +2.72 1.124 52.2% +59 +276 55.6% +0.58 5–1 (83%) 1–4 (20%) 95.9 -0.98
Career 2275 168.2 +0.96 +3.18 1.082 51.3% +23 -11 -121 60.7% +0.61 156–57 (73%) 136–94 (59%) 115.6 -0.18 2504 179.0 +5.24 +7.01 1.365 55.3% -49 +295 -72 76.9% +1.81 184–82 (69%) 253–162 (61%) 104.0 -1.07

Career Rivalries

Each player's five most-played main-draw opponents. The current matchup is highlighted when it appears in a player's top five.