'London 2012 should've been my last Paras': Kamiji still going strong
It is a journey that was supposed to end 12 years ago after London 2012, but for the fourth time in her career Yui Kamiji will take her place in the women’s singles quarter-finals at a Paralympic Games following her latest triumph.
The 30-year-old is very much on the medal trail here at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event and she surged into the last eight after dispatching rising French star Ksenia Chasteau 7-6(4) 6-0 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Kamiji, who has three Paralympic medals to her name, went the distance at Tokyo 2020 – her home Games – only to lose out to the imperious Diede de Groot in the gold medal match.
In short, eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Kamiji has a rich Paralympic career, but one which was only intended to last one edition – London 2012 – as the Akashi-born left-hander plotted a career outside of wheelchair tennis.
“The Paralympics are always special for me, especially London which was my first,” said Kamiji, who was born with spina bifida. “I cannot explain how excited I was at the Opening Ceremony and then I watched the men’s singles final and saw Shingo [Kunieda] win gold.
“London 2012 changed my life. I was supposed to finish my wheelchair tennis career after London 2012, but after being there I knew I wanted to be there at the top of our sport. It had a lot of meaning to me.
“I was in High School at the time and I wanted to study languages. I was thinking whether or not I should keep playing – and it was an 80 per cent 'no'. London 2012 was so good that I had to stay within wheelchair tennis
“The Paralympics changed my life and it is in my blood. Time has flown by and I have been a flagbearer in Rio at the 2016 Games and then I lit the cauldron in Tokyo, which was hugely emotional.”
Following victory over Chasteau, Kamiji will now face Zhu Zhenzhen – one of four Chinese players to make the last eight of the women’s singles here – for a place in the semi-finals. Kamiji, however, was hugely impressed by her 18-year-old opponent.
“She played well,” added Kamiji. “This is the first time I have played against her and I didn’t know how she was going to play. At the beginning, I think she was nervous, and I could control things most of the time. But then she played smart.
“I heard she was playing good non-wheelchair tennis before her accident. Her touch and placement is really good and she is going to be a very good player.”
Watching Kamiji today was the legendary Kunieda, who Kamiji watched back at London 2012. The 40-year-old retired after winning men’s singles gold medal at Tokyo 2020 – and a stack of silverware during a trophy-laden career.
“He texted me last night to say he was coming,” said Kamiji. “I'm working with him a little bit. He moved to America but we still contact each other. When he watches me, it’s a really big advantage for me. I want him to come every day.”
A full list of results from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event can be found here.