👦 Yuki Watanabe | Tennis Papers interview, October 2025

“My dream is to be a professional tennis player.”

Meet Yuki Watanabe, Japanese boy junior tennis player who lives in Kanagawa, Japan and competing in U14 tennis category.
Yuki was ranked in the top 10 in Japan in U12 category.

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

📘 Yuki Watanabe | Biography, October 2025

🏠 Residence | Kanagawa, Japan

🏙️ A beautiful coastal prefecture south of Tokyo, blending city life and seaside calm.
🌅 Home to Yokohama, with its modern skyline and romantic harbor views.
⛰️ Explore Kamakura’s temples, Hakone’s hot springs, and views of Mount Fuji.
🍜 With rich culture, history, and incredible food, Kanagawa captures the perfect balance of tradition and modern Japan!

🎙️Yuki Watanabe | Interview, October 2025

Hello, introduce yourself please.
My name is Yuki Watanabe, I am 12 years old, born on March 23, 2013.

What languages ​​do you speak?
I speak Japanese and English a little.

At what age did you start playing tennis?
I started to play tennis when I was 4.

Are there other tennis players in your family?
No, I am the first tennis player.

In which club do you train tennis?
I train at the Team Rise.

Who is your tennis coach?
My coach is Mr. Hirashita.

What is your weekly training routine?
3 hours x 6 times a week.

As an athlete, what is your greatest quality and what do you need to improve?
My specialty is forehand crosscourt and I need to improve backhand strokes.

What is your junior tennis category and your national tennis ranking?
I moved from U12 to U14 since this autumn and I am ranked #67.

What has been your greatest achievement?
8th place for singles and 16th place for doubles of the national championship.

In which countries have you already participated in tennis tournaments?
I’ve played in Japan and Croatia when I was 10.

Do you have any sponsors?
Not yet.

What is your goal for 2026?
I would take part in the U14 national championship.

What is your tennis dream?
My dream is to be a professional tennis player.

Who are your favorite tennis players?
My favorite tennis player is Roger Federer.

What do you like to do outside of tennis?
I would like to play baseball with my friends.

To which people would you like to dedicate this interview?
All the people.

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