Started playing tennis aged four…Turned professional in April 2003…Father, Fumio, is a banker, mother, Mariko is a housewife; has two older brothers, Jun and Ryo…Has represented Japan in Davis Cup since 2005...Considers his precise backhand a weapon and prefers hard courts…Hobbies include listening to music…Particularly fond of a Hip Hop artist named “Zeebra”…He is shy, but is looked up to as an older brother by his Davis Cup teammates...Started working with former ATP pro Davide Sanguinetti at the start of 2010…Claudio Pistolesi, who coached Takao Suzuki, helped form the partnership.
Japanese Tennis DEUCE Feature (Jan. 2013)
2012 -- The No. 2 Japanese player (behind No. 19 Nishikori) finished a year-end best No. 58 after breaking into Top 50 and getting to career-high No. 47 on July 23. Reached 2 ATP SF in Chennai (d. Dodig, No. 17 Wawrinka, l. to No. 9 Tipsarevic) and Atlanta (d. Nishikori in 1st ATP QF between Japanese players, l. to Muller)...Early in season compiled a 22-5 match record on Challenger circuit with 3 titles. In 1st Challenger in Honolulu, captured title (d. Ginepri) and played in 1R Davis Cup home tie vs. Croatia, defeating Dodig in 5 sets in opener (l. to Karlovic in decisive 5th rubber)...In March, reached final at Singapore Challenger (l. to Lu) and 2 weeks later won Pingguo Challenger title (d. Jaziri).Following month, won title at Kaohsiung (d. countryman Ito)...In May, defeated Roddick in ATP World Team Championship in Düsseldorf. Followed with 1R loss at Roland Garros (l.to Tursunov) and on grass reached 2R at London / Queen’s Club (d. Phau, l. to Dodig) and Wimbledon (d. Kunitsyn, l. to No. 9 del Potro in four sets), lone Slam win of year...Compiled records of 10-12 on hard, 1-4 on clay and 2-5 on grass. Went 0-4 vs. Top 10 opponents and had Top 20 wins over No. 17 Wawrinka (Chennai) and No. 19 Nishikori (Atlanta). Earned a career-high $299,072...
2011 -- Reached QF in Bangkok as a qualifier. Was 29-16 in Challengers, claiming titles at Pingguo and Wahua and reached QF or better in 7 events...
2010 -- Won Manta Challenger and reached final at Nottingham. Went 38-16 in those events. Claimed 2 Futures titles...
2009 -- Qualified into Indianapolis, but unsuccessful in 8 other attempts. Was 18-13 in Challengers, winning title in Tiburon...
2008 -- Earned 1st ATP main draw match win in Beijing. Was 41-13 in Challengers with a career-best 4 titles and 1 other runner-up...
2007 -- Claimed 1st career Challenger title at Manta. Finalist at Brisbane Challenger. Won 1 Futures title and reached 2 other finals...
2006 -- Reached QF or better at 6 Challengers, including runner-up at Aptos. Won 1 Futures title...
2005 -- Made ATP debut at Ho Chi Minh (l. to Puerta). Also made Davis Cup debut. Claimed 1st career title with 2 at Futures level and reached 2 other finals...
2004 -- Advanced to QF at Beijing Challenger. Was 14-18 in Futures with 2 SF...
2003 -- Was 14-12 in Futures with 2 SF...
2002 -- Reached 1 QF while going 4-4 in Futures...
2001 -- As a 17-year-old, was 1-4 in Japanese Futures...
2013
On 26 February, in Delray Beach 1R versus Matosevic saved 3 M.P. in 76(6) 3rd set win…
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