Kei Nishikori, who was set to be Alcaraz’s first-round opponent, has withdrawn from Roland Garros due to physical issues. The Japanese star retired during the second set of his Round of 16 match at the Geneva Open against Karen Khachanov this past Tuesday due to lower back pain, and he has not been able to recover sufficiently to compete in Paris.

With Nishikori out, his place will be taken by Giulio Zeppieri. The 23-year-old Italian made it into the French Open main draw through the qualifiers, where he defeated Jan Choinski, Eliot Spizzirri, and Federico Gomez—without dropping a single set in the process.

Who is Zeppieri?

Giulio Zeppieri is currently in his fifth season as a professional player, having made his debut in 2020. He has yet to win an ATP title, and his highest career ranking came in January 2024, when he reached No. 110 in the ATP Rankings. He has since dropped significantly, now sitting at No. 306.

Zeppieri’s best performances in Grand Slam tournaments have come at Roland Garros, where he reached the second round in both 2023 and 2024. He also made it to the second round once at the Australian Open last year. That history underscores the importance of this Sunday’s match for the young left-hander.

Carlos Alcaraz has faced Zeppieri just once in his professional career. It came in the semifinals of the 2022 Umag Open, where the Spanish star claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win. Alcaraz would go on to lose the final to Jannik Sinner in three sets.

Other last-minute replacements at Roland Garros

Kei Nishikori’s withdrawal and Giulio Zeppieri’s resulting opportunity just days ahead of the French Open isn’t the only last-minute shuffle this week. Four lucky losers will now feature in the main draw: former World No. 3 Marin Cilic will face Flavio Cobolli, Elmer Moller is set for a tough test against 12th seed Tommy Paul, Alexander Shevchenko will take on Dusan Lajovic, and Thiago Agustin Tirante will meet Damir Dzumhur.

Kei Nishikori, a once formidable force on the ATP Tour and US Open finalist in 2014, is making an impressive comeback. Despite a lengthy 20-month absence from competitive tennis, the Japanese star’s spirit remains intact, fueled by the prospect of challenging young talents like Carlos Alcaraz.

Nishikori reached the final of the US Open in 2014, where he faced Marin Cilic and lost in straight sets with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. This showdown was a notable achievement in the talented Japanese tennis player’s career. However, recent injuries left him out of the tour for a long time without playing at his full potential.

During his time away from the game, Nishikori remained closely connected to tennis by following high-level matches. His commitment to understanding the evolving playing styles of the sport’s top players has contributed to his mental preparation for returning to the court. The possibility of facing Alcaraz, one of tennis’ brightest stars, has ignited a fire within Nishikori for his return.

An Exciting Showdown on the Horizon

Nishikori’s triumphant return at the Palmas del Mar Challenger in Puerto Rico was a testament to his unwavering focus and passion for the sport. The former world No. 4 showcased his vintage elegance and remarkable shot-making ability, proving he can still be a remarkable player on the ATP Tour.

“I was watching a lot of tennis actually. I thought that was a good idea to be mentally ready to play again. And especially watching Djokovic, Nadal still playing, fighting. I haven’t played against Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune. That’s something I also can’t wait to play against them”, Nishikori told ATPTour.com.

World No. 1 continues its path to the highly desired “Golden Slam” – winning all four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal in a year – as he already has the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon trophies under his belt. Should Djokovic becomes an Olympic champion this year, he would be one trophy away – the US Open – from emulating Stefi Graff‘s feat in 1988.

On the other hand, the home player will try to pull off a shock against the tournament’s favorite. The 2016 Rio Olympic Games bronze medalist will try to continue defending his medal, but the upcoming task will be toughest challenge for him so far.

Novak Djokovic vs Kei Nishikori: Match Information

Date: Thursday, July 29, 2021
Time: 4 AM (ET) approx.
Location: Ariake Tennis Park, Tokyo

Novak Djokovic vs Kei Nishikori: Time by State in the US

ET: 4 AM
CT: 3 AM
MT: 2 AM
PT: 1 AM

Novak Djokovic vs Kei Nishikori: Storylines and Head-to-Head

Novak Djokovic has been absolutely flying at Tokyo 2020. Without the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the Serbian arrived at these Olympics as the highest-profile figure in tennis, and of course, as favorite to win the gold medal.

He has yetto concede a set, having beaten Hugo Dellien, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Alejandro Davidovich in straight sets. Kei Nishikori, however, has also proven to be a tough opponent to beat in his quest for another Olympic medal. The Japanese star has left Andrei Rublev, Marcos Giron, and IlliaIvashka on the way, only dropping a set to the American.

When it came to meetings between these two, Djokovic has been completely dominant. World No. 1 has won an impressive 16 matches between them, while Nishikori beat Djokoviconly twice.

How to watch or live stream Novak Djokovic vs Kei Nishikori in the US

The game to be played between Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori in the men’s tennis Tokyo 2020 Olympics quarterfinals will be broadcast in the US by NBC and Peacock.

Novak Djokovic vs Kei Nishikori: Predictions and Odds

Bookmakers have already unveiled their predictions for this clash, and they see the Serbian star as the clear favorite. FanDuel has given Novak Djokovic odds of -2000, while Kei Nishikori has +750.

* Odds via FanDuel.