Japanese Men’s and Women’s Teams Advance to the Semifinals
From November 17th (Sunday) to November 22nd (Friday), the ITF Masters World Team Championships have exploded into action in Tokyo, leaving us all wondering if we’re witnessing athletic prowess or a bunch of seasoned warriors trying to relive their glory days—kind of like visiting your parents and finding out they’ve replaced your old photos with holo-prints.
And let’s talk about a remarkable achievement—both Japanese teams strolled through to the semifinals like they were taking a leisurely stroll through a park. You know, one of those parks that only old people visit before lunch, assuming they’re not too tired from a morning of tai chi.
The Japanese Men’s Team sauntered through a round-robin group like it was a buffet—taking down France in the quarterfinals 2-0, all while still looking sprightly. Takahiro Terachi—our hero athlete, who could probably get carded at a bar more quickly than he can serve up a tennis ball—led the charge. It’s inspiring for the rest of us in our 40s, isn’t it? I mean, if he can put in that effort at 45, what’s our excuse? Binge-watching another series?
Now, Terachi faced Guillaume Legat in a match that had us all on the edge of our seats. At one point, he uttered that he was more mentally tired than physically! Ah yes, the mental fatigue—you know, the kind that usually comes after your fifth round of Monopoly with your friends. But our lad Terachi pulled through, breaking Legat’s spirit like a kid breaking his sister’s favorite toy. He pivoted from his earlier sluggishness to find that elusive balance. After all that, I half-expected him to stand up and declare himself the “spirit of tennis.” Oh wait, he did! Sort of!
As for Goichi Motomura, the man was on the brink of cramping so badly he might as well have been auditioning for a role in a Shakespearean tragedy. After dropping the first set, he rallied back with a second and third that had everyone gasping as if their favorite soap opera character had just revealed they were actually an alien. Seriously, you’ve got to love the drama of it all!
The Japanese Women’s National Team also took to the courts with more style than a catwalk of seasoned models. They battled against the French ladies, splitting singles like it was an eggshell and winning the final doubles match in a tie-break thriller that had me clutching my nonexistent pearls—10-8! It’s tense moments like this when I’m reminded that sports really isn’t just about the players; it’s the rollercoaster of emotions we mortals ride right along with them!
As we edge towards the semifinals—Japan vs. Germany on the men’s side and Japan vs. USA on the women’s—they’re poised to show us if they can maintain their winning streak or if it’ll turn into a sporting soap opera of epic proportions! Tune in on the 21st at 10:00, folks; this is going to be a showdown worth tuning in for!
So, as the curtains draw closer to that fateful semi-final day, let’s all channel our inner couch coaches, microwave some snacks, and prepare to cheer on our favorite players like every one’s watching—because they just might be! For more information, including results and match formats, check out the links below:
Event Details and Updates:
ITF Masters Tournament Software
Japan Men’s Draw
Japan Women’s Draw
Let’s keep the spirit high as our beloved tennis warriors continue to battle for glory and perhaps more importantly, bragging rights at the dinner table. Cheers to Japanese tennis—let’s hope they serve up some magic in the coming matches!
Japanese Men’s and Women’s Teams Advance to the Semifinals
From November 17th (Sunday) to November 22nd (Friday), the prestigious “ITF Masters World Team Championships” are being hosted at the scenic Ariake Tennis Forest Park and the iconic Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo 2024, proudly supported by SENKO. Marking its fourth day of exhilarating competition on the 20th, both the Japanese men’s and women’s teams have successfully secured their spots in the highly anticipated semifinals.
[Image]”ITF Masters World Team Championship in Tokyo 2024 supported by SENKO” Photo Gallery
The remarkable Japanese men’s team, having dominated their three-team round-robin stage to finish in first place, showcased their prowess in the elimination rounds by decisively defeating France with a commanding score of 2-0 that very day.
In the opening match, Takahiro Terachi, a seasoned competitor at 45 years old and a former world No. 219, exhibited a fantastic blend of skill and experience, seizing a 4-0 lead against France’s Guillaume Legat with a series of return aces and tactical counters that echoed the excellence of his prime playing days. Despite Legat’s emerging form and competitive rallies, Terachi’s formidable service kept him in command, ultimately securing the first set 6-2.
Reflecting on his performance, Terachi candidly remarked, “I was more tired mentally than physically,” acknowledging the challenges he faced, especially when Legat adjusted his strategy to get the upper hand in rallies. Although Terachi stumbled and lost the second set 3-6, his resilience shone through as he rebounded in the final set. After a shaky start where he was broken in the first game, he swiftly reclaimed the break, stating, “This game was the key,” igniting a renewed fighting spirit that propelled him to a 6-3 victory in the set.
Terachi expressed his burgeoning joy for the matches, saying, “I’m starting to enjoy the matches more and more. If we play here and win, the team will be closer to victory, so I worked hard to perform as well as I can.” His enduring fighter’s spirit was evident as he humorously recounted his decision to initially avoid chasing drop shots but found himself fully engaged on the court.
The battle continued with Goichi Motomura, another standout athlete at 50 years old and a former world No. 134, who faced Xavier Auduy in a closely contested match where both players remained neck-and-neck. Feeling the pressure, Motomura acknowledged the critical importance of winning the match, yet he narrowly dropped the first set 6-7 (7).
Motomura reflected, “I felt like I needed to stretch myself a bit more,” which prompted him to break in the sixth game of the second set. However, the physical demands of the match began to take a toll, manifesting in cramps that challenged his gameplay. His strategy of playing flatter shots rather than spin paid off, enabling him to claim the second set 6-3.
During the final set, he maintained simplicity in his approach by focusing on managing his cramps rather than overthinking his opponent’s tactics. Motomura noted Auduy’s similar game temperament, yet he capitalized on key errors made by Auduy, including return mistakes and double faults. Through sheer determination, Motomura completed the match with an impressive 6-2 set victory while applying hot cream to soothe his muscles.
Motomura humorously contrasted his current tactics with those of his earlier playing days, acknowledging, “What’s different from before is that I can deal with the situation during the match depending on the situation.” He is invigorated by the challenge, stating, “And in the end my whole body would go into convulsions.” He remains resolute to give his all in the remaining matches, embodying a spirit of determination fueled by his experience and motivation as among the strongest contenders over 45.
The Japanese women’s national team also exhibited skill and tenacity against France. After splitting the singles matches 1-1, they triumphed in the final decisive doubles match, clinching the victory in a thrilling final set tie-break 10-8, thereby securing their spot in the semifinals.
Fans eagerly anticipate the semi-finals scheduled for the 21st, where the Japanese men’s team will compete against Germany on the show court, while the women’s team faces the USA on court 2, both matches commencing at 10:00.
■Japanese Men’s Quarterfinal Results■
Japan vs France (11/20 Ariake Tennis Forest Indoor Court)
MS2 ○Takahiro Terachi 6-2 3-6 6-3 ⚫︎Guillaume Legat
MS1 ○Goichi Motomura 6-7(7) 6-3 6-2 ⚫︎Xavier Auduy
MD Naoki Arimoto/Katsushi Fukuda Not held as the winner has been decided Alexandre Martinat/Steve Portel
■Japanese Women’s Quarterfinal Results■
Japan vs France (11/20 Ariake Tennis Forest Indoor Court)
MS2 ○Aiko Ema 6-7(6) 6-4 6-3 ⚫︎Carine Maisonnave
MS1 ⚫︎Akika Hashimoto 1-6 2-6 ⚫︎Ségolène Berger
MD ○Ema Aiko/Hashimoto Akira 6-4 6-7(3) [10-7] Ségolène Bergé/Carine Maisonnave
Assembly HP
https://itfmasters.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=B6AEB83E-0666-448C-974E-C283C77B2A11
Japan Men’s Draw
https://itfmasters.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/drawsheet.aspx?id=B6AEB83E-0666-448C-974E-C283C77B2A11&draw=7
Japan Women’s Draw
https://itfmasters.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=B6AEB83E-0666-448C-974E-C283C77B2A11&draw=24
Goichi Motomura (Former Davis Cup player, All Japan Tennis Championship champion, Grand Slam participant)
Naoki Arimoto (ITF Masters world ranking No. 1, 200km serve is his weapon)
Katsushi Fukuda (current professional player, 30th appearance in this year’s All Japan Tennis Championships)
Takahiro Terachi (Former Davis Cup player, All Japan Tennis Championship champion single and double, Asian Games gold medalist)
Akika Hashimoto (All Japan Veteran Champion)
Aiko Ema (All Japan Champion/All Japan Veteran Champion)
Akiko Kazama (ITF MT700, MT400 Singles Champion)
Yumi Hirayama (ITF MT700, MT400 Singles Champion)
[Event Details]
Tournament name: ITF Masters World Team & Individual Championship in Tokyo 2024 supported by SENKO
ITF World Team ＆Individual Championships in Tokyo 2024 supported by SENKO
Officially recognized: International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Sponsored by: Japan Tennis Association
Supervisor: SPORTS SUNRISE .COM
Special Sponsor: Senko Group Holdings Co., Ltd.
Co-host: Tokyo
Date: National competition from November 17th (Sunday) to November 22nd (Friday), 2024, Individual competition from November 23rd (Saturday) to November 30th (Saturday), 2024
Venue: Ariake Coliseum and Ariake Tennis Forest Park
Opening Ceremony: Saturday, November 16th, 5pm Ariake Coliseum
Finals: National competition: November 22nd (Friday) Ariake Coliseum / Individual competition: November 30th (Saturday) Ariake Coliseum
Award ceremony: After the finals of the national competition on Friday, November 22nd (awards will be awarded for 1st to 4th place) / After the finals of the individual competition on Saturday, November 30th
Match format: [Country competition] Qualifying league Round robin match between groups of 3 to 4 countries. Held for three days on November 17th, 18th, and 19th. The playoffs, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, will be held on November 20, 21, and 22. Each match consists of two singles matches and one doubles match. Doubles will be played in all group matches regardless of the singles score.
Game start: 10am
Match format: Singles/The best of 3 tie-break sets Doubles/Mixed doubles (individual)/The best of 2 tie-break sets & 10 point match tie-break
– What achievements has Rika Yamamoto accomplished as the Defending All Japan Veteran Champion?
Masters world ranking No. 5)
Rika Yamamoto (Defending All Japan Veteran Champion)
The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown in the semifinals of the ITF Masters World Team Championships. With both the Japanese men’s and women’s teams demonstrating exceptional talent and perseverance, the upcoming matches against Germany and the USA will showcase not only their skills but also their resolve to compete at the highest level.
As fans prepare for this thrilling day of tennis, let’s rally together to support these athletes. Whether you’re at home with snacks or at the venue witnessing the action live, the atmosphere is certain to be electric. Let’s cheer for our teams, celebrate their achievements, and hope they continue their impressive runs through to the final!
For real-time updates and to stay connected with the ongoing tournament, keep an eye on the provided links and tune in as we gather to celebrate the spirit of tennis and the remarkable journey of the Japanese teams in this prestigious championship!
Go Japan!
