Naoko Sawamatsu

Naoko Sawamatsu (沢松奈生子, Sawamatsu Naoko, born on 23 March 1973) is a former professional tennis player. During her career she won 4 WTA career singles titles. Sawamatsu reached a career high ranking of World No. 14 on 6 February 1995. At the time of the 1995 Australian Open her family survived the Great Hanshin earthquake and Sawamatsu went on to achieve her best Grand Slam result at Melbourne Park, reaching the quarter finals by defeating compatriot Ai Sugiyama, Laurence Courtois, Kimiko Date in the third round, Mary Joe Fernandez in the fourth round before losing to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.

Naoko Sawamatsu
沢松奈生子
Country (sports) Japan
ResidenceNishinomiya, Japan
Born (1973-03-23) 23 March 1973
Nishinomiya, Japan
PlaysRight-handed
Prize moneyUS$1,107,264
Singles
Career record205–43
Career titles4
Highest rankingNo. 14 (February 6, 1995)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenQF (1995)
French Open4R (1991)
Wimbledon4R (1992, 1994)
US Open3R (1992, 1995)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games2R (1996)
Doubles
Career record16–34
Highest rankingNo. 98 (January 30, 1995)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open3R (1995)
French Open1R (1992)
Wimbledon2R (1992)
US Open1R (1992)

Sawamatsu's most significant title came in 1993 at Strasbourg, she defeated clay courter Judith Wiesner in the final. Sawamatsu had much success at Strasbourg reaching the semifinals in 1991, final in 1992 losing to Judith Wiesner.

Sawamatsu retired from professional tennis after losing in the second round of the 1998 Japan Open to Monica Seles in a three set match 6–3, 3–6, 6–3. Sawamatsu had wins over the following players during her career Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Kimiko Date, Mary Joe Fernandez, Amanda Coetzer, and Conchita Martínez. She was the first player to be beaten by Venus Williams in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament, at the French Open in 1997.[1]

Sawamatsu's career prize money totalled US$1,107,264 with a win/loss record in singles of 205-143.

Since retirement, Sawamatsu has been involved in the development of the sport in her native country.

Sawamatsu is the daughter of tennis player Junko Sawamatsu and the niece of 1975 Wimbledon ladies doubles champion Kazuko Sawamatsu.

WTA Tour finals

Singles: 7 (4–3)
Legend
Grand Slam0
WTA Championships0
Tier I0
Tier II0
Tier III2
Tier IV & V2
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Winner 1. 28 April 1990 Singapore Hard (o) Sarah Loosemore 7–6(7–5), 3–6, 6–4
Runner-up 1. 21 April 1991 Pattaya, Thailand Hard (o) Yayuk Basuki 2–6, 2–6
Runner-up 2. 24 May 1992 Strasbourg, France Clay Judith Wiesner 1–6, 3–6
Runner-up 3. 16 January 1993 Melbourne, Australia Hard (o) Amanda Coetzer 2–6, 3–6
Winner 2. 23 May 1993 Strasbourg, France Clay Judith Wiesner 4–6, 6–1, 6–3
Winner 3. 24 April 1994 Singapore Hard (o) Florencia Labat 7–5, 7–5
Winner 4. 27 April 1997 Jakarta, Indonesia Hard (o) Yuka Yoshida 6–3, 6–2

Performance timeline
Tournament199019911992199319941995199619971998W–L
Australian Open A 3R A 3R 2R QF 4R 1R 1R 12–7
French Open 2R 4R 1R 2R 2R 3R 2R 1R 2R 10–9
Wimbledon 1R 2R 4R 3R 4R 3R 3R 2R 3R 16–9
US Open 2R 2R 3R 1R 1R 3R 2R 2R 2R 9–9
GS W–L Total2–37–45–35–45–410–47–42–44–447–34
WTA Tier I Tournaments
Rome - - - 3R QF 2R - - - 0 / 3
Berlin 1R 0 / 1
Charleston - - - - - - - - 2R 0 / 1
Philadelphia Not Tier I - - - Not Tier I 0 / 0
Boca Raton - - 3R Not Tier I or Was Not Held 0 / 1
Tokyo Not Tier I - - QF QF 2R 2R 0 / 4
Moscow Not Tier I or Was Not Held - - 0 / 0
Miami - 3R 3R 2R 4R 4R 2R 2R 3R 0 / 8
Montreal/Toronto QF 3R 3R 3R 3R - - 3R 1R 0 / 0
Zurich Not Tier I - - - 1R 1R 1R - 0 / 3
Indian Wells - - - - - SF 2R 2R 2R 0 / 0
Chicago - - - - - - - - 0 / 0
Career statistics
Tournaments Won 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0
Year End Ranking 31 33 24 28 26 17 38 34 55

References
  1. Venus Williams - Makes Her Debut At French Open - Finals, Tournament, Tennis, and Little - JRank Articles
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