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[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

6 months 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

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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.