Former professional tennis player Maya Uno

Rediscovering my own unique style of tennis by meeting friends across national borders.

Former professional tennis player Maaya Uno

■ Profile
After graduating from high school, she competed in domestic tours as a professional tennis player, retiring at the age of 20. After retirement, she studied beauty and health fields such as aromatherapy, medicinal herbs, and Ayurveda, and obtained various qualifications. At the same time, she also became involved in junior development and worked as a tennis coach.
Currently, she is involved in clinics, events, and appearances in tennis and golf media, as well as organizing the first-ever retreat tour in the tennis industry. Furthermore, she has launched "Tennis Girls TOKYO," a tennis community exclusively for women in their 20s and 30s, proposing a new lifestyle that incorporates tennis.
Furthermore, Prince has released a limited-edition racket designed by Maya Uno, the first Japanese player to do so. In addition, she is involved in brand production and product development, including developing her own original apparel line at Admiral ATHLETICS, and is widely active as a figure who creates new value in the tennis industry.

■From florist to tennis player

I started playing tennis when I was in the third grade of elementary school. Before that, I had taken various lessons such as swimming, calligraphy, piano, and badminton, and I didn't have a particularly strong desire to play sports. In fact, back then I was the kind of elementary school student who wanted to be a florist. The reason I started playing tennis was because my younger sister had started taking tennis lessons first.

The club I attended had a training class, and there was a system in place where you could feel yourself improving with each rank you moved up. When you joined the training class, an environment naturally arose where you competed with peers of the same age. In that environment, the desire to "become stronger" and "first, to be able to beat people my age" began to grow, and before I knew it, I was participating in tournaments.

This moment when my competitive spirit was awakened was a major turning point for me. When I first started playing tennis, I was just doing it for fun, but as I gained more experience in the training classes, my desire to "seriously pursue a career as a player" grew stronger.

■ The joy I found in the world of winning and losing

As an athlete, my life was a world where everything was judged by wins and losses. My own evaluation, the evaluation of those around me, and the evaluation of my coaches—everything was judged by results. The pressure was immense, and there were difficult times. But I was able to continue because of the support of my family and coaches. The moment I won a match and was able to share the good news with those who supported me was my greatest joy.

That feeling may have already begun to sprout during team matches in high school. Tennis, which I had previously competed in as an individual sport, transforms into a sport where I carry the hopes of my teammates on my shoulders in team matches. The number of cheering fans, the tension, the sense of responsibility. Matches where my single win could determine whether the school wins or loses had a great deal of pressure in a good way, and it became an unforgettable experience.

Under pressure, I found my own ways to manage my mental state. Before matches, I would listen to Western music to get pumped up, or play with a slightly angry intensity to maintain my focus. I needed a mentality that encouraged me with phrases like "Come on!!" because a gentle attitude would weaken my competitive spirit.

However, the stress of my competitive career took a toll on my physical health, and I had to take a break for about three months. During that time, I spent more time thinking about what I should do next. I decided to try again and went to America, but when I saw the world's top athletes, I felt that I had no chance of beating them. At that moment, I felt a great weight lifted from my shoulders, and I decided to quit competitive sports at the age of 20.

■The "new joy of tennis" seen outside of competition, and the challenge for the future

After quitting competitive tennis, I stayed away from the sport for a while, but then I started going to Korea, where I met many friends. I rediscovered the joy of tennis, which is different from competitive play, and I realized that I could connect with people through tennis regardless of nationality or age. In Korea, tennis became hugely popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, and colorful mini-courts spread everywhere. "Instagrammable tennis," where people enjoy everything from their attire and photos to creating the space, had become commonplace, and I was strongly inspired by that free and stylish atmosphere. I learned that tennis has become a culture that is "not just about winning or losing," and I wanted to spread this way of enjoying tennis in Japan as well.

Around the same time, I started playing golf. In the world of golf, the enjoyment of clothing, makeup, and photography is deeply ingrained in the culture, and I realized that "enjoying a sport is an experience that includes the space and fashion as well." My experiences in Korea and my realizations through golf came together, and a "new form of tennis" became clear to me. To give shape to that idea, I founded "Tennis Girls TOKYO" four years ago. This is a community that enjoys fashion, photography, and creating spaces, rather than tennis as a competitive sport. Currently, we also have Tennis Boys TOKYO and Tennis Boys OSAKA, with a total of 4 members, and we hold an annual exchange match with Korea called the "Japan-Korea Match." It's not a competition, but a tournament aimed at allowing both countries to enjoy interacting through tennis, and the connections I made with friends in Korea continue to this day.

I want to make tennis more accessible and feel like a sport to everyone by promoting a new tennis culture. This youth outreach program is incredibly enjoyable for me, as it allows me to make new friends through tennis and connect with peers of the same generation, creating a new community. Currently, my activities focus on lessons, event appearances, and community management. I believe there's no single right way to enjoy tennis; the styles are limitless.

Regarding the future, I want to be someone who can take on challenges and pursue what I want to do at that time. Because there is no single right answer, it is important to put what you want to do into words and take that first step. And behind every challenge, there are always people who support you, and my gratitude for their presence has remained unchanged since high school and is a major pillar supporting my current activities. That's why I want all students to honestly face what they want to do. Even if it doesn't work out, it will definitely be an experience. Don't forget to be grateful to those who support you, and take on challenges one step at a time while putting your gratitude into words.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on July 21, 2026: Haruka Koshuku, 1st year student at International Christian University

Rinne Furuya, 2nd year, Kaichi Nihonbashi Gakuen High School / Reina Inomoto, 1st year, Kyoto University of the Arts / Haruka Koshuku, 1st year, International Christian University / Yurie Watanabe, 3rd year, Josai International University