U.S. Open Tennis Wheelchair Division Opens; Oda Kaito and Kamiji Yui Share Their Enthusiasm

The wheelchair division of the US Open Tennis, the final Grand Slam of the year, will begin with the doubles at midnight on September 2nd (Japan time). Prior to the start of the tournament, WOWOW's local reporter, Shuzo Matsuoka, interviewed Kaito Oda and Yui Kamiji. In the first round of wheelchair singles, which begins late at night on the 3rd, Oda will face C. Ratzlaff (USA) and Kamiji will face L. de Greef (Netherlands). By winning this tournament, Oda will aim to achieve a career Golden Slam (winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Paralympics), while Kamiji will be aiming to win his first singles title in eight years.

◇Interview with Oda Kaito

Shuzo Matsuoka: (You were talking with Shingo Kunieda earlier) How does it feel to be at the top of the wheelchair tennis world when the environment around you is constantly changing?

Oda Kaito: When I started playing tennis, I read articles introducing Kunieda as a leading figure in the wheelchair tennis world, and when I researched the origins of wheelchair tennis, suddenly his photo and text appeared. I also watched his YouTube videos, so of course I knew about him. I think he's been active since the 2000s, when I was born, so I'm sure a lot has changed since then.

I've been thinking for a while now that I'd like to be at the center of change in the world of wheelchair tennis as a player, and if only I could bring a little bit of different color to the sport. When people look back in 30 or 40 years, I'd like them to think that wheelchair sports changed completely between 2024 and 2025. (Mr. Kunieda) has taken on many challenges, so I have a lot of respect for him.

Matsuoka: What are your thoughts on the US Open, Oda?

Oda: I'm really looking forward to it (laughs). It's been a while since I've played on a hard court, and every time I come to New York I get excited and feel fresh. I feel like I want to show off my tennis, so I'm really excited. (The last tournament was) two years ago, so it feels like quite a long time ago, and I feel like I've been here for the first time in a while. Looking at the numbers alone, I haven't had much success, but I don't have any negative impressions of this tournament at all. I feel like, "Well, I'm sure I can do it!"

Matsuoka: Speaking of men's tennis, there's currently Sinner and Alcaraz, and in wheelchairs, there's Oda and Hewett. How do you feel about these rivalries?

Oda: I want to look at those two as role models. There's a slight age difference between me and Hewett, so I think there are differences, but I've been winning a lot recently, so rather than seeing him as a rival, I think the victory would only come if I could face him in the final and win. We both have a strong desire to reach the final and play our best tennis. It was the same at Wimbledon, but I want to have a fierce match.

Matsuoka: Sinner is precise and serious, while Alcaraz is free-spirited and passionate. They each have their own unique personalities, but what type and personality does Oda have?

Oda: What's fun to watch is Alcaraz's playing style. I would say I'm more of an Alcaraz type, but that alone isn't interesting, so I want to show my own style first. I have a sense of playing the game fairly calmly, and I'm conscious of not showing my emotions on my face. I think that's what makes my style a little different from overseas players. As I'm representing Japan, I value that aspect very much.

Matsuoka: Oda is one of the most popular tennis players in Japan, but what do you want to convey through your play?

Oda: Most of all, I want people to be surprised and say, "Wow, this guy is amazing!" (laughs). To achieve that, I need to win in order for them to think that way, and no matter how cool I try to act, if I lose, it won't work. I believe that only by winning can I express what I want to express.

Matsuoka-san: You're wearing a hat with a flame design. Is your soul burning?

Oda: I'm fired up! I think I'll try to show that much emotion. It definitely feels different from previous tournaments. Even after spending a few days here, I feel like I'm more fired up than usual. I think I've been getting better results so far when I'm like that, so I'd like to do the same this time (laughs).

Matsuoka: I'll never forget interviewing you here two years ago, when you were crying after losing the US Open. Are you able to forget those feelings in a good way?

Oda: It remains as a bad memory in a good way. I haven't somehow gotten over it and think, "I am where I am today because of that experience." If I had won there, I would have been the youngest (to win), so I don't think it should remain as a good memory. It remains in my mind as something I regret, and that makes me work harder, and I sometimes have flashbacks to that experience.

◇Interview with Yui Kamiji

Shuzo Matsuoka: You said you had a feeling you were going to retire after the 2012 London Paralympics, but how do you feel about continuing to compete ever since?

Yui Kamiji: It feels long (laughs). I feel happy that I've been able to do things I couldn't do before, but it doesn't end there; I find new things I want to do, and with every match and practice, there are new tasks and challenges I need to tackle, so it really never ends. In a sense, I think that when I can play perfect tennis in a match or practice, that's when it's over. So far, I haven't had a single match or practice that's so perfect, so I'm still in a situation where I feel like I have to step on the court tomorrow.

Matsuoka: What does perfect tennis mean to you?

Uechi: Because I'm small, I can't win with power or long reach, so I think my style is based on tactically forcing my opponent to do things they don't like, forcing them to make mistakes, and then forcing them into a corner. While I have that style of play, in the last few years I've also started to challenge myself to attack more proactively, so there's a lot I want to do there as well. I still don't know what I need to do to play perfect tennis that will satisfy me.

Matsuoka: At the Paris Paralympics, you won in such an amazing way that I wondered if this was the end of your career. How did you feel at the time?

Uechi: I was very satisfied when the match ended, and felt like I had done my best. I was able to try various things, such as staying up front and forcing the opponent to come forward, which have been my weaknesses until now, and I was able to achieve those results in the match, so I was really satisfied.

As I was sorting through the match and thinking about what to talk about before going to the post-match interview, rather than saying I gave it my all, I had a lot of positive reflections, like "I should have done this at that time" or "If I had scored points like this, the flow might have changed." As long as those kinds of thoughts were popping into my mind, I realized after the match that I couldn't quit just yet.

Matsuoka: What do you regret about Wimbledon (in July)?

Uechi: At Wimbledon, I didn't know what I should have done. After I got home, I watched the WOWOW footage over and over again. But I still couldn't find a breakthrough. Even after watching it once or twice, there was nothing that I could say to myself, "Next time, if I use this, I'll definitely win!" I think that was due to the characteristics of the grass court, and there were many factors that came together, such as her (Wang Jiying, who I faced in the final) calm play, so it was a frustrating and difficult match.

Matsuoka: Besides you, the Chinese players are also getting stronger and stronger. How do you feel about that?

Uechi: I'm keeping an eye on it, and I think we need to take proper measures. However, I don't recall there ever being a year in which Asian players have been able to compete in so many Grand Slams, so I'm happy that players from China and Japan are now able to compete consistently. It's been a few years since the tournament was expanded to a 16-round draw, and I think half of the players are Asian, so I'm very happy about that. I also want to take the lead among these Asian players and lead them.

There are more and more young players younger than me, and many powerful players from Asia are emerging, so every match is really tough. I've been experimenting with new things and trying new things in this tournament, so I hope to be able to show that in the matches, even if just a little.

Matsuoka: How do you view Wimbledon, which is one year away from achieving the career Golden Slam?

Uechi: When my Wimbledon match ended, I thought, "Another year, then?" A year is a long time, so I didn't think about quitting. On the contrary, I thought a year would be a long time, which I think is because I intend to continue competing. I don't have a clear vision of how I'll be playing on grass in a year, but I want to keep working hard until I can win a title.

Matsuoka: Is the whole of America excited?

Uechi: Now that you mention it, I have a lot of feelings about my wheelchair and my playing style that comes with it (laughs). Before coming to New York, I had practice with Kunieda in Orlando, and there are many things I want to do. I would like to be able to fight by judging the situation with my opponent, such as communicating and deceiving each other, rather than just focusing on myself.

Matsuoka: Kunieda-san always says nice things to me, doesn't he?

Uechi: I got totally beaten up (laughs). I was practicing well, but on the last day I got totally beaten up. That gave me energy and made me feel encouraged.

*The US Open Tennis will be broadcast live every day on WOWOW. The main broadcast schedule for the wheelchair division is as follows:

Men's Wheelchair Doubles First Round (Court 10, Match 3) = G. Fernandez and Oda Kaito vs. M. de la Puente and R. Spaargallen (WOWOW On Demand) Women's Wheelchair Doubles First Round (Court 15, Match 1) = Kamiji Yui and K. Mongenes vs. A. Bernard and K. Chasteau (WOWOW On Demand)