Kunieda and Kamiji claim twin triumphs in Melbourne
The 2020 wheelchair tennis season has kicked off in full with a duo of Japanese singles champions at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, with Shingo Kunieda capturing the men’s crown and Yui Kamiji winning the women’s.
It’s a significant year for all wheelchair players with the Tokyo Paralympics set for late August, but even more so for Kunieda and Kamiji, who are well-known para athletes in their home country.
Kunieda held off Great Britain’s Gordon Reid in an engaging men’s final, 6-4 6-4 in one hour, 43 minutes, the win giving him his 10th Australian Open title and a 44th Grand Slam overall in both singles and doubles, which equals Esther Vergeer’s all-time record.
“Esther is the best player in wheelchair tennis, so it is a big honour, yeah, same, equal the Grand Slam title,” said Kunieda. “I don't care about (the) record. This is a big victory because I couldn't win a Grand Slam last year. Now my age is 35. The rivals are very young. Sometimes I was feeling I don't have any more chance win Grand Slam. So (I am) very happy, yeah.”
It’s a 23rd singles Grand Slam for him, but first since Roland Garros in 2018. He’ll maintain his position as the world No.1.
It was an equally satisfactory start to the year for Kamiji, who beat Dutch player Aniek van Koot 6-2 6-2. In a 50th meeting with van Koot, Kamiji is now 31-19 and wins her seventh Grand Slam singles title, and her first since Wimbledon in 2018.
The wheelchair finals were pushed back to Sunday after persistent rain cancelled outdoor play on Saturday.
“I'm very happy,” said Kamiji, who is 25. “I don't think I was perfect in these days. But I just focus to play my performance. Yeah, I feel I am getting better since after first week of this month. I just play fun and not have pressure, just play my tennis, yeah.”
It’s a third Australian Open singles titles for Kamiji, who first won here in 2017. She now has 22 major titles overall. She won the doubles here with partner Jordanne Whiley on Friday.
It’s the first year in wheelchair tennis that athletes can complete the Golden Slam – winning all four majors and the Paralympics. In the past, calendar dates did now allow the US Open to hold a wheelchair event in a Paralympic year, and just last year Roland Garros and Wimbledon added quad wheelchair events. Kunieda and Kamiji join Australian Dylan Alcott as AO singles winners, with that Golden Slam a possibility for their respective 2020 season – as well as the opportunity to become the first wheelchair players to win a calendar Grand Slam.
“I think it's very important because normally, if someone won this title, then the player is very good they whole year,” said Kamiji.
She added that while it will help her moving forward, she’s not putting too much pressure of focus on the Paralympics.
Kunieda revealed that he changed his racket during the off-season, and he celebrated his win with a big roar after beating Reid, thrusting his arms overhead as his team rose to their feet in the stands.
“This is a very good start for me. I changed a lot in winter,” he explained. “From two weeks ago I came to Australia. I play good, really good, much better than last two years. I had the confidence to win this time, yeah.”
Kunieda’s equalling of Vergeer’s record is significant in the wheelchair world, as the Dutch player is known to be the greatest of all time in the sport.
Kunieda also was successful in a different aspect this AO: He convinced Kamiji to start her first-ever official Instagram account. You can now follow her: @yui_kamiji, while Kunieda is simply @shingokunieda.