Tennis Prose




Mar/12

28

Random Tennis Player Biofile: Naomi Yamaguchi

Occupation: Freelancer for Tennis Japan magazine.

Spotted At: Media Center at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, FL.

First Tennis Memory: Wimbledon, Steffi Graf winning in 1987, I saw it on TV. She’s the same age as me. When I was playing she was my idol. I also remember the Becker final at Wimbledon.”

Inspiration: “Just enjoy to watch tennis. I went to university and stopped competing. After university I started working with a tennis magazine. Four years later I resigned and moved England for four years to enjoy life. Then I came back to Japan and the magazine and started covering every Grand Slam since 1999.”

Greatest Tennis Moment: “I think probably when I saw Kei Nishikori went to the fourth round of the U.S. Open, he beat Ferrer. I never thought that would happen for a Japanese player. We had Shuzo Matsuoka but he wasn’t that talented, he was just trying very hard. Nishikori is more talented and he has more tennis sense. I saw Nishikori play when he was 12 and his technique and movement were very good. We could dream about his future. Also, Fed Cup in 1996 when Japan beat Germany. Ai Sugiyama was just 20 and she won in doubles. I cheered like a fan in the stadium, that was great. It was a miracle that they won over Graf and Anke Huber.”

Most Painful Tennis Moment: “1993 or 1994 Davis Cup. Japan vs. New Zealand in Christchurch. It was actually my first Davis Cup to watch. I went to Christchurch, Japan was winning but Shuzo Matsuoka started cramping. He was two sets up against the New Zealand player and he had to quit. That was the saddest.”

Racquet You Use: “I don’t play now. Not at all. I just watch. Ten years – I never had a racquet in my hand [laughs]. I don’t want to play again because I might be very disappointed by my tennis.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Ever Met: “Lisa Bonder. She came to my hometown tennis club in Wakayama, Japan when I was 17. I took a photo with her. I went to see her with my teammate. Also when I was 17 I practiced with Kimiko Date.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Federer. I liked Santoro before. His tennis was very technical. Santoro was funny and interesting. I also like Safin. You can’t expect what he might do. Like the time he pulled his shorts down at the French Open. Sharapova. Her concentration is great, she never gives up. And always coming back from the bad situation. And by the same reason, Serena Williams. I should say Kimiko Date Krumm as well. She’s very small but very clever. And good technique.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Wimbledon, yeah. I like French Open as well, Paris.”

Favorite Tennis Book: “The one by Uncle Toni.”

Strangest Match: “Maybe the streaker at Wimbledon. And at the Kournikova match I saw one streaker, I don’t know which tournament.”

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