👦 Rodrigo Kenichi Abe Hirai | Tennis Papers interview, November 2025

“My dream is to be a professional, number 1 in the ATP.”

Meet Rodrigo Kenichi Abe Hirai, Brazilian boy junior tennis player who lives in Curitiba, Brazil and competing in U18 tennis category.
Rodrigo is ranked amoung the top 10 players in Brazil in his category and his goal for 2026 is to earn his first ATP points.

(Information gathered via an exclusive interview by Tennis Papers).

📘 Rodrigo Kenichi Abe Hirai | Biography, November 2025

🌿 Curitiba, Brazil 🇧🇷

🏙️ Modern & sustainable – Worldwide model for urban planning, eco-friendly transport, and clean city design.
🌳 Parks everywhere – Botanical Garden, Barigui Park, Tanguá Park… Curitiba is a paradise for nature lovers.
🚍 Smart transport – The famous Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) began here and inspired cities globally.
🎭 Rich culture – Vibrant arts scene, opera house in a glass-and-steel structure, museums, theaters.
🥟 Multicultural food – Influences from German, Italian, Ukrainian, and Polish immigrants blend into a unique cuisine.
❄️ Cooler climate – One of Brazil’s colder cities, with fresh winters and mild summers.

🎙️Rodrigo Kenichi Abe Hirai | Interview, November 2025

Hello, introduce yourself please.

I am Rodrigo Kenichi Abe Hirai, 17 years old, born on October 17, 2008.
I am Brazilian.

What languages do you speak?

Portuguese, semi-fluent English, some Spanish.

At what age did you start playing tennis?

5 years old.

Are there other tennis players in your family?

My father is my tennis coach.

In which club do you train?

Clube Curitibano.

Who are your coaches?

Maurício Silva, Renan Santos, Charles, Tiago Slonik.

What is your weekly training routine?

I train every day, morning and afternoon. In the morning, from 9:00 to 10:00 physical training and from 10:00 to 11:30 court work; in the afternoon, from 14:00 to 15:30 court work and from 16:00 to 17:00 injury prevention.

As an athlete, what is your greatest quality and what do you need to improve?

My greatest quality is my patience, and I’m also very intelligent. I need to improve my will to win and have more grit.

What is your junior category and your national ranking?

18 male, currently ranked 10th in Brazil.

What has been your greatest achievement?

ITF doubles title in Rio de Janeiro.

In which countries have you already played tournament?

Paraguay, Bolivia.

Do you have any sponsors?

Not yet, but there are people who help me.

What is your goal for 2026?

To get ATP points and play some Challengers.

What is your tennis dream?

To be a professional, top 1 in the ATP.

Who are your favorite tennis players?

Alcaraz, Roger Federer, Guga.

What do you like to do outside of tennis?

I like playing on my cell phone.

To which people would you like to dedicate this interview?

To my relatives.

Thanks a lot NAME!
Tennis Papers wishes you the best in your tennis life 💜🩷