Shingo Kunieda - Career - 2009-2012

2009-2012

2009 Kunieda won the Grand Slam. Kunieda won titles in Sydney, Fukuoka, Nottingham and St Louis. Kunieda was named as the 2009 ITF World Champion. In doubles competitions with Ammerlaan he won the Australian Open. As a team they also won in Sydney and St Louis. They were also finalists at Wimbledon. Won Daegu with Saida Helped team to 4th.

In 2010 Kunieda won both titles in Fukouka and Paris. Kunieda won both titles in St Louis and won his 100th straight singles match in the process. He also won the singles in Kobe. Won both titles at the Australian Open and Roland Garros; including saving 2 match points in Melbourne to keep the streak going. Won the US Open. Kunieda lost in the semi finals of the doubles masters and masters. Kunieda completed his season by winning two golds at the 2010 Asian Para Games, winning the singles before combining with Saida for the doubles. He finished the year as the ITF World Champion.

2011 saw Kunieda win titles in Sydney, Kobe, Fukuoka and Paris. An elbow injury forced Kunieda to withdraw from both finals of the US Open USTA Wheelchair tennis Championships. At the Grand Slams Kunieda won both titles at the Australian Open. At Roland Garros he lost in the semi finals but won the US Open. Sydney doubles final loss, won Kobe and Japan doubles

"I'm tired, but I've done well. It's quite unbelievable. January and February was a hard time for me.” “I worked hard so I could come and win. It was my dream to come here and it's become a reality.

Kunieda after successfully defending his Paralympic title.

Kunieda started his 2012 season with a semi final showing in the Japan Open. He then guided his country to the semi finals of the World Team Cup. Kunieda lost in the final of Roland Garros but won the doubles. Kunieda got back to winning ways by winning the French Open, where in the semi finals he defeated Houdent 12-10 in a final set tiebreaker. He also won the Swiss Open and for the fourth time the British Open. He then became the first man to successfully defend the Paralympic Games Men's singles title. At the 2012 Masters Kunieda finally captured the elusive title.