Sports

[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Tokito Oda Triumphs at Japan Open to Continue Impressive Run in 2023

Top-ranked star Tokito Oda, who is 17, has won seven singles titles on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour this year, including two Grand Slam tournaments.

Published

1 year ago

October 22, 2023

Ed Odeven

Tokito Oda hits a return in the Japan Open men's wheelchair singles final at Tokyo's Ariake Tennis Forest Park on October 20. (KYODO)

Read the full story on SportsLook - [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Tokito Oda Triumphs at Japan Open to Continue Impressive Run in 2023

World No 1 Tokito Oda collected his seventh wheelchair tennis singles title of 2023 on Friday, October 20.

The 17-year-old Oda defeated 38-year-old Japanese compatriot Takashi Sanada, who is ranked eighth in the world, 6-3, 6-3 at Ariake Tennis Forest Park.

Also this year, Oda won a pair of overseas hard-court titles (Dunlop Kobe Open, Cajun Classic), the Swiss Open and French Open on clay and Wimbledon on grass.

With a pair of Grand Slam titles this year among the other tournament conquests, Oda has demonstrated that he's a force to be reckoned with on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

Oda overcame a slow start in the semifinals to prevail against Kohei Suzuki, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

After beating Sanada, a jubilant Oda raised his arms in the air to celebrate.

"I am very happy to have won this year," said Oda, according to The Sankei Shimbun. He was the runner-up to retired legend Shingo Kunieda in the 2022 Japan Open men's final.

"I was really satisfied with the match," Oda added.

*Tokito Oda (third from right) holds the winner's trophy for the Japan Open men's wheelchair singles final. Retired legend Shingo Kunieda is on the far left. (KYODO)*

Oda will next compete at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. The men's wheelchair singles final is on Friday, October 27, and the tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

"I would be happy if I could win a gold medal to confirm my place in Paris," Oda told reporters.

Mochizuki Reaches Japan Open Semifinals

In other tennis news, Shintaro Mochizuki completed a titanic upset on Thursday, October 19, knocking off 10th-ranked American Taylor Fitz in the Japan Open men's singles third round, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).

Mochizuki is ranked 215th.

In Friday's semifinals, Russian world No 50 Aslan Karatsev ended Mochizuki's title aspirations, winning 6-3, 6-4 at Ariake Colosseum.

With the win, Karatsev advanced to play 19th-ranked Ben Shelton, an American, in Sunday's title match.

Tokito Oda Triumphs in Wimbledon Wheelchair Singles Final

Continue reading the full story, which includes news items on baseball, soccer, basketball and more, on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.