World Number 1 and 1st tournament seed Tohito Oda beat world number 8 Takashi Sanada in the finals of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in the Wheelchair category yesterday, winning 6-3, 6-3.

Oda’s ascension seems unstoppable having already broken a number of records in wheelchair tennis since turning professional at age 15. Today he continued his winning streak in just over an hour against Sanada, 18 years his senior.

The wind swirled around the Kinoshita Arena as the two players warmed up. Oda undeterred by the adverse conditions, took the early break immediately with a series of decisive returns of serve, using his mighty forehand and backhand strokes. Oda was aggressive and did not hesitate taking shots early while Sanada took a more strategic stance carefully placing the ball.

At 3-1, Sanada found a way to break for 3-2 with a combination of strong serves and narrow misses by Oda at the net. However Oda was unshakable and broke back when Sanada double faulted and was stunned by Oda’s lightning fast paced return on serve for 4-2. Oda held serve but Sanada halted his victory march by holding serve himself with his serves, forcing the error. Oda finished off the set taking the break with his signature whacking forehand down the line for a 6-3 set win.

The 2nd set opened on Sanada’s serve. The tempo had noticeably accelerated and the points were faster and more aggressive on both sides but it’s Oda who got the early break at 2-1. Oda was well inside the court taking a 3-1 lead. After a long deuce/advantage exchange Oda held serve for 4-2 and then broke again at 5-2 with stunning down the line shot, followed by a massive backhand winner. Oda served for the match but had to wait for the victory having conceded 15-40 with some very close calls and very well placed shots by Sanada who broke. Sanada’s final game was on serve but despite a last desperate effort, Oda went for a short ball and put it away for the set winning 6-3. Statistically Oda’s dominance was reflected with a 76% 2nd return points won compared to Sanada’s 50%.

At the press conference Oda said he was thrilled with the victory and used a wide serve to gain advantage. His ultimate goal is to play at the same level as an able-bodied player.