'It's so crazy' - Oda, De Groot and Vink net Japan Open titles
It’s well documented that Tokito Oda’s rise up the wheelchair tennis rankings is little short of remarkable, and the Japanese 16-year added another career-first to his list of achievements when he became the youngest winner of the Japan Open men’s singles title in Iizuka City over the weekend, with Diede de Groot and Niels Vink claiming the women’s and quad titles.
It’s the second time in a month that the same three players have swept the main draw singles titles at one of the Super Series tournaments on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, but for Oda to win the second Super Series singles title of his career on home soil was an extra special feeling.
“Last time I won here in 2019 I was 12 and I never thought that I would be number two in the world four years later, so it’s so crazy for me, but I’m so happy,” said Oda after beating compatriot Takashi Sanada 3-6 6-1 6-4 in the third all-Japanese men’s final in the illustrious history of the Japan Open.
When Oda refers to ‘last time’, he reflects on winning the tournament’s second draw title in 2019, the last time the Japan Open was held before the Covid-19 pandemic. And yes, he was only 12 then, as the 2019 men’s main draw title was won for a record ninth time by Shingo Kunieda.
Fast forward four years and it was Kunieda who presented his heir apparent and current world No. 2 with the Emperor’s Cup for the men’s singles champion. In 2018 the Japan Open was added to the list of elite Japanese sporting events honoured with presenting the Emperor’s Cup and Empress’ Cup to its men’s and women’s champions.
“I got some power from the people (the crowd) so it's been very, very special, “ added Oda, who has now closed the gap on world No. 1 Alfie Hewett to a mere 61 points at the top of the rankings. “And I got the trophy from Kunieda-san, so that was also special for me. After his retirement I was thinking that I need to do well as he was the last champion.
“I did not play my best today but I'm so happy to be champion of the Japan Open. It's pretty tough to play against Sanada-san because last time we played it was also a final set and because it is in Japan so many people came to watch our match.”
Beating Sanada in what was the 37-year-old’s first Super Series singles final was also significant for Oda. A little over two years ago, a 14-year-old Oda was world ranked No. 91 before beginning a sequence of victories in tournaments in Turkey that would propel him up the rankings. Sanada was the first top 10 opponent that Oda beat in competition, in Turkey in May 2021, having also been one of the players that inspired Oda when he was being treated for osteosarcoma as a child.
“When I was in hospital he was playing at the Rio Paralympics and I was thinking ‘I want to be like him’ and then two years ago I played him in Turkey and I learned a lot of things from Sanada, not only tennis, but also how to live at tournaments,” said Oda. “So to have the final against him today has been special. He has a big forehand and a big serve, so it was not an easy match. It was not the best of conditions with the sun and a little bit of wind, but it was fun to play against him and I hope we do it many, many more times at big events.
“Next time I will be on the same side as Sanada (at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup), so I’m really going to enjoy it and I hope we play doubles together, and also doubles with Miki too and I hope we’re also going to win the WorldTeam Cup.”
It remains to be seen whether Oda's success may be replicated in years to come by one or more of the 14 young players who took to court with Shingo Kunieda and Gordon Reid shortly after the men's final for the latest UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Next Generation Development Programme Clinic.
De Groot wins second Japan Open title
When Shingo Kunieda won the last of his nine Japan Open men’s singles titles in 2019, Diede de Groot also clinched her first women’s singles title in Iizuka, defeating Yui Kamiji 6-3 7-6(8) in the final. Four years on and the outcome was the same in this year’s final – a straight sets win for De Groot, but on the face of it the match was somewhat more straightforward this time as the top seed clinched her latest Super Series title 6-0 6-4.
It came after three finals successive finals against Kamiji during which the world No. 2 had taken the opening set against De Groot, including a 6-0 first set at the Australian Open.
Having recorded her 94th successive match win since last losing to Kamiji in the final of the 2021 Melbourne Opem, De Groot said:
“I'm very happy with this final. I think I played very convincing and there was no hesitation, even though there was quite a lot of wind. I think for Yui maybe that made a little bit of a difference, because her shots didn't come through as maybe they have in the previous (three) finals and I was very confident and happy that I could play with the wind like I did.
It gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season and hopefully I can build on this and continue to have a very nice warm up for Roland Garros.”
Vink extends cushion at top of quad world rankings
Niels Vink began 2023 just nine points ahead of fellow Dutchman Sam Schroder at the top of the quad singles world rankings but, four months into the 2023 UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, Vink has extended that advantage to almost 400 points after claiming his first Japan Open title and his third win over Schroder in three Super Series finals this season.
The world No. 1 won his latest Super Series title for the loss of just 11 games across four singles matches, defeating second seed Schroder 6-3 6-3 in Iizuka.
Vink will head into the month of May and the 2023 BNP Paribas World Team Cup - where he and Schroder will combine in a bid to retain the quad title for Netherlands – having won 22 of his 23 matches in 2023, his only loss having come to Schroder in the final of the Australian Open.
"I’m very happy to win this tournament. It is my second time in Japan and I really like this venue," said Vink. "It’s a really nice one to win and I would like to thank all the volunteers, all the sponsors, the organisation and, of course, Sam. Hopefully we will win the final in doubles later."
Schroder and Vink duly won the quad doubles to take their unbeaten record for the current season to 11 match wins after beating Australia’s Heath Davidson and Canada’s Robert Shaw 6-2 7-6(7) in the quad doubles final – their third win over Davidson and Shaw in the four doubles tournaments the Dutch duo have played together this season.
There was an all-Japanese victory in the men’s doubles. Takuya Miki partnered Oda to make their first tournament together a memorable experience as they wrapped up a Super Series title on home soil after beating Dutch second seeds Ruben Spaargaren and Maikel Scheffers. Miki and Oda held on to win 2-6 7-6(6) (10-7), despite relinquishing a 5-2 second set lead.
Meanwhile, top seeds Kamiji and South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane also clinched their first Super Series title together, defeating second seeds Jiske Griffioen and Momoko Ohtani 6-4 7-6(4).