ATP · Head-to-Head Rivalry

🇯🇵 Kei Nishikori
Age 36 · Elo 1655
vs
🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal
Age 40 · Elo 1751
2
12

Meetings

14

Series

2–12

Kei Nishikori first

Last Meeting

Apr 19, 2021

Avg Game Margin

5.7

winner's games minus loser's

Kei Nishikori · 212 · Rafael Nadal
20082021

Record by Surface

Clay
0–6
Hard
2–4
Grass
0–2

Kei Nishikori in green, Rafael Nadal in blue.

Series shown from Kei Nishikori's perspective.

Every Kei Nishikori vs Rafael Nadal Meeting

DateTournamentSurfaceWinnerScore
Apr 19, 2021BarcelonaR16ClayRafael Nadal6-0 2-6 6-2
May 27, 2019Roland GarrosQuarterfinalClayRafael Nadal6-1 6-1 6-3
Apr 16, 2018Monte Carlo MastersFinalClayRafael Nadal6-3 6-2
Aug 8, 2016Rio OlympicsBRHardKei Nishikori6-2 6-7(1) 6-3
Apr 18, 2016BarcelonaFinalClayRafael Nadal6-4 7-5
Mar 7, 2016Indian Wells MastersQuarterfinalHardRafael Nadal6-4 6-3
Aug 10, 2015Canada MastersQuarterfinalHardKei Nishikori6-2 6-4
May 4, 2014Madrid MastersFinalClayRafael Nadal2-6 6-4 3-0 RET
Jan 13, 2014Australian OpenR16HardRafael Nadal7-6(3) 7-5 7-6(3)
May 27, 2013Roland GarrosR16ClayRafael Nadal6-4 6-1 6-3
Mar 21, 2012Miami MastersR16HardRafael Nadal6-4 6-4
Mar 23, 2011Miami MastersR64HardRafael Nadal6-4 6-4
Jun 21, 2010WimbledonR128GrassRafael Nadal6-2 6-4 6-4
Jun 9, 2008Queen's ClubR16GrassRafael Nadal6-4 3-6 6-3

Tour-level meetings back to 1968 where available. Dates reflect the tournament start.

Rating & Ranking

Kei NishikoriRafael Nadal
—ATP Rank—
1655Overall Elo1751
1594Hard Elo1676
1566Clay Elo1714
1536Grass Elo1625

breakPoint Elo starts every player at 1500 and weights matches by tournament importance — values are internally consistent but not comparable to other published Elo scales.

Form & Activity

Kei NishikoriRafael Nadal
3–52026 Season—
38%8 matchesLast 12 Months—0 matches
40%Form (last 5)50%
0%Form (30 days)—
Sep 30, 2026Last MatchNov 19, 2024

Serve & Return

Kei NishikoriRafael Nadal
67%Hold %86%
30%Break %33%
3.1%Ace Rate4.6%
3.4%Double Fault Rate2.5%
60%Serve Pts Won68%
37%Return Pts Won42%

Career rates over each player's tracked matches.

Advanced Stats

Advanced stats are for Pro members

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Per-Match Averages

Kei NishikoriRafael Nadal
2.9Avg Aces2.8
5.9Avg Aces Against5.0
2.9Avg Breaks3.4
22.4Avg Games21.4
484Matches560

Career averages per best-of-3 match; aces against are opponent aces conceded, breaks are service breaks won. Each stat covers the matches where it was tracked.