Yes there is one player who actually stands out from the rest of the 250 players who are competing at the 2025 US Open. Her name is Aoi Ito.
Nobody plays tennis like the 21 year old from Japan who has invented a new innovative style to combat all the hard hitting baseliners of the WTA.
While Novak Djokovic and Carlos and Emma were rocking the stadiums in the mixed doubles showcase, the little known Ito was out on court 9 exhibiting the most original creative style in pro tennis. Ito loves to use a forehand slice, a rare shot in the WTA which she can trust to counter heavy forehands and backhands. Over and over and over again Ito made it look easy today, deftly trading with the much bigger stronger and more experienced (by ten years) German opponent Lena Anna Friedsam.
It was a fabulous match. Ito had to earn a difficult win the hard way. Friedsam lead in the first set 4-2 but then Ito pushed a button, summoned her A game and won four straight games for 6-4.
Forehand slices, forehand lobs, drop shots, two handed backhand frozen ropes, passing shots, surprise volleys, Ito will throw everything at an opponent. She might have more strategic dimensions than the WTA top ten combined.
I didn’t see Ito lose the second set 5-7 but returned at Ito 3-1 up in the third. She finished the job at 6-3 for her first US Open win at her first US Open.
Another aspect that makes Ito intriguing is that she has a fascinating personality on the court that exudes pure joy. During especially thrilling, dynamic points she will smile and even laugh, enjoying the game like no other pro player I have ever seen in thirty years of observing this sport up close live. She is a serious, intense competitor but also one who never forgets it’s just a game too.
This afternoon court 9 was a jam-packed full house for the whole match. Amazingly, Ito has attracted a lot of fans already. She first broke through on the big stage last fall in Osaka. And this year she has scored some headline-making wins vs the likes of Jelena Ostapenko, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Jasmine Paolini from a set and break down in Montreal. Paolini was her first top ten win.
Ito closed out the 31 year old Friedsam at 15 in the last game, shook hands, bowed and then immediately greeted her gigantic fan base with autographs, photos and more smiles. Right in the middle of the mob I commented, “It’s Itomania. Nine more to go.” One guy said, “That’s good. Tell her that.”
The WTA is short on unique characters and personalities these days but this young woman can save the Tour with her total package of game, charisma and intangibles. While Ito worked overtime to satisfy her fans for about ten minutes, the next court 9 match players entered the scene – Alexander Blockx and Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva to break up the party.
Ito has all the qualities and original style to become sensation, not unlike Su Wei Hsieh and Li Na. It’s almost like some kind of miracle to see someone play so differently than everyone else. And her game actually works. That’s how superb her mastery of racquet and ball control really is. It’s simply mesmerizing to watch.
The way Ito flows around the court and sways into her shots with full body fluidity is astounding. It looks as if she has perfected her personal techniques by hitting a trillion balls and she is not even close to being bored by the sport. I’d really love to watch an hour long slow motion documentary about her playing and hitting all those different shots. It’s more like ballet than what all the other women do.
Yes, you had to be there to witness this phenomenon. Aoi Ito is on her way up the rankings. She is the best value ticket in women’s tennis right now.
Aoi Ito · Dunlop · Itomania · US Open
Scoop Malinowski · August 19, 2025 at 9:52 pm
Match point was a forehand slice cc drop shot which Friedsam netted.
Scoop Malinowski · August 21, 2025 at 10:04 am
Really looking fwd to see Ito play today. Another note about her first match win on Tuesday was how crowded the court was before the match even started. She is still an unknown player but she already is quite popular and obviously has a fan base. This proves tennis fans will embrace a quirky original playing style. Her charisma is also surely part of the appeal. Curious to see how crowded her match is today.
Scoop Malinowski · August 21, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Ito was even better today, 60 16 61 vs a Spanish woman. This time she performed her artistry of spin, variety and unpredictable, unorthodox tennis on court 8. Itomania is growing.