NEWPORT BEACH, January 7, 2018 (Press Release)

Kei Nishikori, who has been ranked as high as No. 4 on the ATP World Tour, has accepted a wild card to play in the inaugural tournament of the Oracle Challenger Series, scheduled for January 20-28, 2018 at the Newport Beach Tennis Club.

The 28-year-old Nishikori, a US Open singles finalist in 2014, will compete in the ATP Challenger, which is part of a combined tournament with a WTA 125K Series event.

“I am very excited and looking forward to getting back on the court in January,” Nishikori said. “The Oracle Challenger Series is a perfect event in a great Southern California location to help me get some match play. This will be a great opportunity to face some high-level competition.”

The Oracle Challenger Series will mark the first tournament appearance for Nishikori since last August when he suffered a season-ending right wrist injury. The Japanese star finished 2017 with a 30-13 singles record. He is currently ranked No. 22 in the ATP World Tour singles rankings.

The second event of the Oracle Challenger Series will take place February 24-March 4, 2018 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif. The top two male and female Americans with the highest accumulated points in the Oracle Challenger Series will be awarded wild cards in their respective singles main draws at the 2018 BNP Paribas Open, held March 5-18 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Admission for spectators is free for each day of the Newport Beach and Indian Wells events.