Two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Kei Nishikori says he ‘deeply regrets’ hurting his wife and children after reportedly having an affair with a model. The 35-year-old was recently snapped leaving the apartment of Azuki Oguchi, with news of a ‘years-long’ fling being reported in the Japanese media.

Nishikori married Mai Yamaguchi, who also goes by the nickname Ako Mizuki, in 2020. The pair had been together for five years before tying the knot, and they have two children together, aged four and one. Injury forced Nishikori to announce his withdrawal from Wimbledon earlier this week, and only days later, he came out with a statement about matters off the court.

He said: “I deeply apologise for causing discomfort to everyone who supports me: tennis fans, associations, sponsors, and other related parties, and for their concern and inconvenience due to my dishonest behavior. Additionally, I deeply regret making my wife and children feel hurt.”

Japanese outlet Shukan Bunshun allege that Nishikori and Oguchi started seeing each other in 2022. And while their affair was put on hold after a confrontation with Oguchi’s then-boyfriend, it is said to have resumed last year.

Nishikori has pledged to dive head-first into climbing back up the tennis rankings in order to regain the trust of his family and put the scandal behind him.

He continued: “Moving forward, in order to fulfill my role as a responsible member of society, I will focus solely on tennis competitions and achieving results. We will do everything possible to regain their trust.”

Nishikori reached as high as fourth in the world rankings in 2015 – the same year he made the quarter-finals of the French Open and Australian Open, and the year after losing in the final of the US Open. He also boasts a bronze medal from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The veteran’s career has been disrupted by a string of injury problems since 2021, and he has slipped down to 61st in the men’s rankings. Further issues forced him to withdraw from the French Open in May before taking his name out of the running at the All England Club.

“You have to try to stay patient, otherwise it’s very difficult,” he said in April. “I’ve done that, and I’ve got used to the journey, the struggle. My body is not the strongest, I know that, so I have to really take care of it. It’s important to stay positive and patient. That’s what I’ve learned. I just enjoy playing now. I’ve set some goals. One was to be back in the top 50 and I’m nearly there.”