Personal

Father is from Haiti, mother is from Japan; older sister is Mari (also played tennis)
Was born in Osaka, Japan, and moved to USA when she was three years old
Hobbies include fashion, gaming and photography

Career Highlights

SINGLES
Winner (7): 2021 - Australian Open; 2020 - US Open; 2019 - Australian Open, Osaka, Beijing; 2018 - Indian Wells, US Open.
Finalist (4): 2022 - Miami; 2020 - New York [Western & Southern Open]; 2018 - Tokyo; 2016 - Tokyo.

ADDITIONAL WTA 125K Series Finalist - Singles (1): 2015 - Hua Hin.
Japanese Fed Cup Team, 2017-18, 2020.

Career in Review

Returned to play in 2024 following maternity leave and reached the QF at Doha and 's-Hertogenbosch, as well as R16 at Rome and Beijing

Played 2022 Tokyo in September before taking a 15 month break to give birth to daughter Shai in early July 2023

In 2022 had success at Miami, where she fell to Swiatek in the final, her first final since the 2021 Australian Open. Also reached the semifinals at Melbourne 250 #1 (withdrew before semifinal with Kudermetova w/abdominal injury)

Won 2021 Australian Open (d. Brady in F) to become first woman since Seles in the early 1990s to win each of her first four Grand Slam finals - is the 16th woman to win four or more majors in the Open Era

At 2020 US Open, came from a set and a break down to Azarenka and win third Grand Slam title of career

Also last season was R-Up at Western & Southern Open - withdrew w/left hamstring injury before final against Azarenka

Won second Grand Slam at Australian Open (d. Kvitova in F); became first Japanese player to reach World No.1 ranking following the tournament

In addition, won back-to-back titles for first time in her career at Osaka (d. Pavlyuchenkova in F) and Beijing (d. Barty in F); defeated No.1 Barty in Beijing final for second career victory over world No.1 (also beat Halep at 2018 Indian Wells)

Enjoyed break-out season in 2018, posting a 40-20 record resulting in a No.5 (first Top 10 season), up from No.68 in 2017

Won the first two titles of her career in 2018, at Indian Wells (d. Kasatkina in F) and debut Grand Slam crown at US Open (d. S.Williams in F)

En route to the Indian Wells title, defeated five-time major champion Sharapova, and A.Radwanska, Ka.Pliskova and Halep. Only set dropped all fortnight was against Sakkari in R16

Reached one further final in 2018, at Tokyo [PPO] (l. Ka.Pliskova)

In reaching R16 at 2018 Australian Open, became youngest Japanese player to reach R16 at a Slam since Sugiyama at 1995 Roland Garros (19y, 342d) and the youngest player from Japan to reach R16 in Melbourne since Date in 1990 (197, 122d)

Book-ended 2017 season with QF showings at Auckland and Hong Kong; other highlights included 3r runs at Wimbledon and US Open

Scored first Top 5 win of career when she defeated No.5 V.Williams at 2017 Hong Kong. Upset win over defending champion and No.6-ranked Kerber at 2017 US Open marked first career Top 10 win

Voted 2016 WTA Newcomer of the Year; highlight was career-first WTA final at Tokyo [PPO] (l. Wozniacki). Also reached QF on three occasions and 3r at Australian Open, Roland Garros and US Open

Ranked No.406, made WTA main draw debut at 2014 Stanford. As an alternate, won through qualifying (achieving first WTA qualifying wins), and came from match point down to shock No.19 Stosur in 1r of main draw, before losing to No.18 Petkovic in 2r

Made WTA qualifying debut at Québec City in 2013 (l. Dabrowski)