Kaito Oda and Yui Kamiji, who will be competing in the wheelchair division of the French Open, scheduled to begin on June 2nd, gave an interview to WOWOW, which will be broadcasting the matches live. Oda is currently on a three-year winning streak at the French Open and is aiming to become only the second player in history, after Shingo Kunieda, to win four consecutive titles. Winning this tournament is an important piece in his quest to achieve a calendar-year Grand Slam. Meanwhile, Kamiji, who has won the tournament five times, will be fighting for her second consecutive French Open title. In the first round of the wheelchair singles, Oda will face G. Reed (Great Britain), and Kamiji will face J. Griffion (Netherlands).
◇ Interview with Kaito Oda
--What is your current condition?
I'm feeling great. In terms of tennis, I'm able to do what I want to do on clay, and I'm getting better with every match. I won the tournament in Barcelona last week, which got me here, so I'm feeling very confident right now.
--What are your thoughts on achieving a Grand Slam in a single year?
Right now, the tournament starts tomorrow, so my biggest priority is winning this. After achieving a career Golden Slam at last year's US Open, I thought about what I should aim for next, and I realized that a calendar-year Grand Slam was the only option. I was the runner-up at the Australian Open last year, but I won this year, so I have a chance and I want to give it my all to achieve a calendar-year Grand Slam.
--How is your compatibility with Roland Garros?
I think it's fantastic! On clay, you can hit the ball where you want, and your opponent's shots often come where you expect them to, so it's very easy to play. I don't usually practice on clay courts, but I've always loved the feel of clay. That's probably why I've been able to keep winning so far. In particular, the last time I lost at Roland Garros was when I played against Kunieda (in the semi-finals in 2022). I haven't lost since then, so I feel like I can't afford to lose here. I want to play my own style and win again this year!
--Please share your thoughts and aspirations with your fans.
To all tennis fans in Japan, please continue to support me this year. I'm in great form again this year, so I think you'll be able to see my tennis evolve in every match. I want to build on the strengths I've had so far and extend my winning streak, which has continued for three years. I hope you'll enjoy watching my winning streak continue.
◇ Interview with Yui Kamiji
--What is your current condition?
I moved to Europe early, to a tournament in Rome, Italy, then practiced in Barcelona for a week, participated in a warm-up tournament, and then decided on Paris. It's been quite hot at every tournament, and it's quite different from practicing in Japan, so to be honest, I'm struggling (laughs). In Japan, I mostly practice indoors, so the way the ball bounces is different, and the texture of the clay on each court is also different. On top of that, I changed to a new racket model in February of this year, so I haven't quite gotten used to it yet, and there are some things I'm not able to do the way I want to.
--What are your impressions of Roland Garros this year?
Even with today's heat, I've heard from locals that it's considerably better than last week. Rain is forecast for tomorrow and beyond, but it's supposed to get even cooler. In recent years, the tournament has changed to a 16-player draw, making the road to the final much longer, so I think it will be a tough fight right from the first round. I want to focus on what I can do and take it one match at a time.
--Following the results of the Australian Open, what kind of training have you been doing in preparation for this tournament?
First, I reviewed what I was lacking to win the Australian Open. Also, since the season is starting on clay and grass courts, which are not hard courts, I thought I needed to prepare for a different style of play in terms of movement, such as using the court more effectively. As part of that, I decided to change my racket. The racket I'm currently using is a perfect fit for the aggressive playing concept I'm aiming for. I want to play more aggressively than ever before, without fear of failure.
--Where does your motivation come from?
Including both wins and losses, I've never had a match where I was 100% satisfied. I've also never had a practice session where I was 100% satisfied, so I think there must be something I'm lacking. When I think about all the things I haven't tried yet and the things I can't do, it really feels like there's no end to it. Speaking of titles, I haven't won the Wimbledon singles title yet, so my motivation for that is very high.
--Please share your thoughts and aspirations with your fans.
Thank you for your continued support. Your support truly gives me strength, and I'm determined to fight for every single point. I know this tournament will be tough, but I will give it my all, so I would really appreciate your support.
