The UNIQLO Interview: "Thank You Shingo" | ITF
Article 07 Feb 2023

The UNIQLO Interview: 'Thank You Shingo'

Marshall Thomas

07 Feb 2023

“Today on Jan. 22, I made a decision to retire. Thank you, everyone!”

Shingo Kunieda’s retirement announcement on the eve of this year’s Australian Open Wheelchair Championships understandably brought an avalanche of reaction from the world of tennis, fans and the wider sporting community, with the thousands of tributes to the most decorated men’s wheelchair tennis player of all time and his record-breaking career most aptly summed up in three words: ‘Thank You Shingo’.

For the latest UNIQLO Interview we’ve brought together a collection of tributes from the tennis tennis community as Kunieda’s peers pay homage, alongside the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Billie Jean King.

Kunieda became UNIQLO’s first Global Brand Ambassador in 2009, before Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori, who both joined Kunieda on court in Britain in 2014 for the announcement of the ITF’s wheelchair tennis partnership with UNIQLO.

Reflecting on Kunieda’s retirement, Djokovic posted on Instagram:

“Congratulations on an amazing career. Thank you for inspiring so many people."

Roger Federer, the most recent of UNIQLO’s Global Brand Ambassadors from within the tennis family along with Gordon Reid, also took to Instagram, saying:

“What an incredible career. It has been a privilege to watch you play and see you leave such an incredible mark on wheelchair tennis. Welcome to the retirement club."

Federer has shared the court with Kunieda, both before and since announcing his own retirement, while joining Kunieda and fellow Ambassador Gordon Reid for an online discussion in 2021, during which Federer imparted a little advice that may have played a small part in Kunieda lifting the last of his 50 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon.

David Haggerty, ITF President, is among others to pay tribute to Kunieda and his illustrious career. He said:

"Shingo’s contribution to wheelchair tennis is incalculable, from his record-breaking feats on the court raising the profile of the sport around the globe, to being a familiar figurehead in the partnership between UNIQLO and the ITF as wheelchair tennis continues to break new ground and gain new fans. Shingo has raised the bar when it comes to the way wheelchair tennis is played and is the standard to which other players aspire.  Everyone at the ITF congratulates Shingo on all his achievements, on and off the court, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with him during his next chapter.”

Esther Vergeer, the most decorated women’s wheelchair tennis player of all time, announced her retirement 10 years ago this year, having won 44 Grand Slam titles overall, a tally that ranks second only to Kunieda. Now tournament director of the ABN AMRO World Wheelchair Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, a tournament that Kunieda won in both 2013 and 2014, Vergeer said:

“Shingo set a new bar in wheelchair tennis. His mobility on court, his anticipation was outstanding. When I was playing I always watched him play, and I imagined myself moving around the court like him.

“He helped wheelchair tennis grow in many ways. In Asia, but also in the rest of the world. Kids looking up to him, big companies wanting to join the sport because of him. We can only appreciate players like him, and hoping that he will stay involved.”

Yui Kamiji, current women’s world No.2 and Japan’s most decorated women’s wheelchair tennis player, said:

“The days I fought with him  (in training) were very exciting for me, and I was inspired by the fact that I didn't want to lose to him, even though we cannot be compared. While he’s always shown us a cool, stoic appearance on the court, when he leaves the court, we'll miss the personality that makes people laugh, his humour and a gentle smile.”

Robin Ammerlaan, the player Kunieda first played in Australia in 2002 before later beating Ammerlaan to win the first of his three Paralympic men’s singles gold medals in Beijing in 2008, reflected:

“The first time I played Shingo in 2002 I won 6-0 6-0, playing dropshots and lobs. He was chasing every ball trying to get to every shot, made mistakes doing it and I thought ‘Why?’. The last time I played him, in 2011, I lost 6-0 6-1. He was fast and hitting lots of winners and I thought ‘Why?’.  Maybe because I trained him ? No, Shingo made the sport more professional and mature by giving that extra push. Even when it was not in his advantage at that first moment, it would be later.”

Satoshi Saida, the doubles partner with whom Kunieda won his most career doubles titles, the first of his four Paralympic gold medals and his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2006, said:

“With Shingo, I participated in many doubles tournaments from around 2000 to the Rio Paralympics in 2016. I have very fond memories of him winning the gold medal in the doubles at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, despite his shoulder injury. Also, it is wonderful that he was able to achieve the goal of becoming No. 1 in the world rankings from a young age. Also, the fact that he was able to win many titles without being satisfied with that. I respect him so much because he has put in so much effort. Now I just want to say thank you. I hope he will contribute to the development of wheelchair tennis after resting.”

Stephane Houdet shared the longest singles rivalry with Kunieda during his career, the two players having faced each other more than 60 times in competition between 2006 and 2022.

“The easiest way to talk about Shingo is to use numbers. Everything he has accomplished is associated with world records. I even wonder if he is not the holder of the largest number of Guinness world records. But, for me, Shingo is much more than numbers. Over the years and almost incalculable matches played with him, I realised that he was my best partner. Certainly he has been by my side for many doubles titles, but it is also for singles matches that Shingo was my best partner.

He has concretely passed the opponent's stage. Shingo is not a rival, Shingo is the man who allows you to improve, he is the one who asks you to be better. It is the most beautiful example value I have encountered in the world of wheelchair tennis. He brought professionalism to the game but also to the entire circuit.”

Tokito Oda, Kunieda’s heir-apparent, having moved up to a career-best No.2 in the wake of reaching this year’s Australian Open final, said:

“He was surely the biggest reason for me starting this sport, so it is sad for me, his retirement. I feel like I’ve lost big things in my life and I think it’s not only me. I've never got to win against him, but I hope that regret is going to make me bigger and bigger. I’m really excited to see what he’s going to do next, so I'd like to wish all the best!”

Ann Quinn, Kunieda’s sports psychologist from 2006 through to his retirement, said:

“Congratulations, Shingo, on your amazing career. I will always remember our first session at TTC in Kashiwa back in 2006 and you told me you wanted to be invincible and become number 1 in the world. You were always a man on a mission.  You have been a quintessential professional throughout the entire journey and never left a stone unturned. Your attention to all the little details  in every aspect of your performance was truly extraordinary.  To become World No. 1 in any sport is an amazing achievement. To stay there for so long over your career is Invincible!  You never stopped learning, always worked hard and made so many little changes to stay ahead. The power of our mind is incredible and even champions doubt themselves, so I feel blessed to have be able to give you the belief, inner strength and trust in yourself when it mattered most. I am so proud of you Shingo. It has been such an honour to have travelled this journey with you for the past 16 years, from your first  Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open to your 50th Grand Slam at Wimbledon.   Congratulations ‘Mr Invincible’.  You are a true champion on and off the court and a wonderful ambassador for tennis. I already know your next chapter will be legendary too.”

Brad Parks, the founding father of wheelchair tennis back in 1976, had this to say:

“I first met Shingo when I saw him play in 2009 at the World Team Cup in Nottingham, England.  I was really impressed with his all-court game.  I loved his passion and intensity in the way he played and I was impressed with his extreme degree of professionalism in everything he did, both on and off the court. 

It had always been my dream that the best wheelchair tennis players would take the sport seriously and professionally and Shingo did just that throughout his extensive career.  Congratulations Shingo on your amazing accomplishments and your mandate that will continue to inspire future wheelchair tennis champions.”

Kunieda celebrated his career at a press conference at UNIQLO’s Ariake Headquarters in Tokyo on 7 February, an event attended by approximately 200 media guests.

Tadashi Yanai, Chairman, President and CEO of Fast Retailing, said, “It’s a little sad, but today is also a day that a new Shingo Kunieda is born. Going forward, I will continue to support him to the fullest extent, and I have high expectations for Kunieda's future as a role model for young people.”

Kunieda's been a role model for players of all ages for many years and those contesting this year's Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters were also keen to pay tribute to the four-time Paralympic gold medallist.

 

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