Tennis News • Kei Nishikori Pulls Out Of Indian Wells • Belgian Ruben Bemelmans Fills In

Ruben Bemelmans of Belgium in action during his match against Marton Fucsovics of Hungary for the Davis Cup World Group first round tie between Belgium and Hungary at the Country Hall in Liege, Belgium, 02 February 2018. EPA-EFE/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

 

 

Kei Nishikori is out of Indian Wells.

 

The 22nd-seeded Nishikori withdrew from the tournament this morning due to illness.

 

Lucky loser Ruben Bemelmans replaced Nishikori in the draw and will play Leonardo Mayer on Stadium 3 following the match between 29th-seeded David Ferrer and American wild card Tennys Sandgren.

 

Nishikori was scheduled to meet the media at about 11:30 a.m. local time, but did not appear.

 

An ATP official said he was too ill to attend the presser.

 

The 28-year-old Nishikori won the Dallas Challenger last month went on to reach the New York Open semifinals. Nishikori fell to Canadian Denis Shapovalov in his last match in Acapulco.