Kei Nishikori started his campaign in Toronto battling Miomir Kecmanovic for two hours and seven minutes to earn a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 win on Tuesday on Stadium Court.
However, a sore right shoulder forced World No. 55 to pull out from his following clash against Hubert Hurkacz.
“I am disappointed to announce that I have decided to withdraw from my match today. The right shoulder is very sore after a long stretch of tennis, and I do not want to risk further injury. I will now spend my focus on getting healthy and back on court again,” he told Tennis Canada.
The 31-year-old comes from displaying a top performance in Washington, which led him to contest his first semi-final since Barcelona in 2019.
In October 2019, the 12-time ATP titlist underwent surgery on his right elbow; in 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19 and later suffered another injury to the shoulder while playing his second-round match at the French Open.
Ever since, former world No. 4 has been on a comeback route, improving his game at his own pace.
Late in July, he represented his country at the Olympics in Tokyo, building momentum by advancing to the quarter-finals - which he lost to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-0, ahead of his appearance in the US Series.
“It is such a shame that Kei [Nishikori] has to withdraw,” said Karl Hale, Tournament Director of the National Bank Open in Toronto.
“He is a real fans’ favorite at our event, having made the final a few years ago here in Toronto, and he’s such a great player to watch. We wish him well in his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Toronto in 2023.”
In 2016, the Japanese player reached the ATP Toronto Masters final by outlasting Stan Wawrinka, falling to Djokovic in the championship match at the Center Court.
Due to Nishikori withdrawal, seventh seed Hurkacz received a walkover into the third round.
The 2021 Miami Open presented by Itau champion will next face ranked 42 Nikoloz Basilashvili, who moved past 12th seed Alex de Minaur with a 6-1, 6-1 victory on Rogers 5G Grandstand.
Hurkacz and Basilashvili will play for the first time at a tour-level encounter for a place in the last 16, Thursday.
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Ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime fell to Serbian player Dusan Lajovic 5-7, 4-6 in the first round.
Fellow countryman Denis Shapovalov opens his campaign later in the evening (local time) against American player Frances Tiafoe.