Aiming to be number one in Japan in tennis Aoi Kataoka of Mie Green Tennis Club | YOU Yokkaichi

[Kataoka practicing hard in Nishisakabe-cho, Yokkaichi City]

Aoi Kataoka (1st year at Yokkaichi Municipal Minami Junior High School), a member of Mie Green Tennis Club (Nishisakabe-cho, Yokkaichi City), who says her goal is to win the national tennis championship, has been active in national tournaments since elementary school. Now that she is a junior high school student, she is working hard at practicing to become a national champion.

His father, Ryo, is a tennis coach, and his older brother, Ryuryo (a third-year student at the same junior high school), is also a talented player who has participated in international tennis tournaments. He began practicing at the same club once a week when he was in kindergarten. At first, he couldn’t keep up a rally, but by hitting the ball against a wall at home with his brother and competing to see who could last longer, he improved. He made his national debut at the All Japan Junior Championships when he was in the fifth grade of elementary school, where he advanced to the second round in the U12 doubles. Last year, he won his first prefectural singles title. He gained confidence by beating opponents he had never beaten before, as he had only made it to the quarterfinals. He also participated in the All Japan Junior doubles and came in third in the nation.

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She practices every day from 9am to 3pm during summer vacation. She is good at volleys, which are hitting the ball without bouncing before it hits the ground. In the past, she struggled with backhands, which are hit with the left side of her dominant hand, and her opponents also aimed for that position when hitting the ball, but as she desperately tried to hit the ball back, her sense of weakness disappeared. Now she aims to improve her forehand, which is hit with her dominant hand. Even with her family, tennis is the main topic of conversation. “I can’t imagine a life without tennis. I want to win the national tournament and become a professional,” she said with a smile.