Shingo Kunieda (39, Japan), the world’s best wheelchair tennis player who achieved the ‘Golden Grand Slam’, has retired. 헤라카지노
Kunieda submitted his retirement documents to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on the 22nd and announced his intention to retire on his social media. Kunieda tweeted, “Last year, I won the 10th season champion (ranked No. 1). I think I’ve done enough. I hope you forgive me for stepping down from the top spot in the world.” Kunieda will hold a press conference for his retirement on the 7th of next month.
Kunieda is a wheelchair tennis legend who has won the Paralympics (Olympic Games) and all four major tournaments. He won 28 majors (11 Australian Open, 8 Roland Garros, 8 US Open, 1 Wimbledon) or singles. He also won 22 titles in doubles. Unlike non-disabled people, wheelchair tennis allows up to 2 bounds, and all four major tournaments have wheelchair departments.
He also won three gold medals at the Paralympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Tokyo 2020). He explained, “After I realized my dream at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, I thought of retirement. I felt that I lacked the energy to run the tour, and I also won Wimbledon last year, which I had challenged for a long time.”
When Kunieda was 9 years old, a spinal cord tumor left him unable to use the lower part of his body. He started playing tennis when he was in the 6th grade of elementary school with the advice of his mother. He started competing internationally in 2005. He reached the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in 2006, and in 2009 he dropped out of the university where he was working and jumped into a tour pro. He topped the world rankings for 582 weeks, and his career win rate in ITF-sanctioned competitions is 87% (699 wins, 105 losses). He was sponsored by Uniqlo along with Roger Federer.
Kunieda took the words ‘I am the strongest’ as his conviction. He became mentally stronger after being advised by his mental trainer to say the words “I am the strongest” in front of a mirror. Kunieda concluded his explanation of his retirement by saying, “It was the best wheelchair tennis life. I ask for your support for wheelchair tennis in the future,” and “I am the strongest.”
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