Koji Watanabe

Koji Watanabe (渡邊康二, Watanabe Kōji, born 19 January 1942) is a Japanese former international tennis player. He won four career singles titles (1966-1969).

Koji Watanabe
Country (sports) Japan
Born (1942-01-19) 19 January 1942
Ashiya, Hyogo, Japan
Turned pro1961 (amateur tour)
Retired1971
Singles
Career record165-21 (88.7%) [1]
Career titles4 [1]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1965), (1969)
French Open2R (1964), (1966)
Wimbledon2R (1969)
Team competitions

Career

Watanabe played his first tournament at the Miami Invitational in 1961.[2] He won his first title on clay at Gruneweld, West Germany in August 1966 beating compatriot Ichizo Konishi in three sets.[2] In 1966 he claimed his second title again on clay at Ostend, Belgium defeating South African player Jackie Saul two sets to one.[2] His third title came in 1968 at the Lowther Hard Court Championships, Barnes, London where he beat New Zealand player Onny Parun two sets to one.[2] His fourth and final tile came in 1969 at the Athens International on clay where he defeated Australian player Geoff Masters three sets to one.[2] He reached the finals of three other tournaments Andhra Pradesh Championships on hard courts in (1966), the Worcestershire Championships, on grass in (1967) and finally Bad Neuenahar on clay in (1969).[2]

In Grand Slam tournaments he competed in the Australian Open two times, in 1965 and 1969.,[3][4] The French Open in 1964 and 1966 and at Wimbledon one time in 1969. He also served as coach for Japan's Davis Cup team (1971–1974) and as vice-chairman of the Japan Tennis Association.[4]

He played his last tournament at the Tokyo Indoor in 1971 losing to Ian Fletcher in the semifinals.[2]

References

  1. Garcia, Gabriel. "Koji Watanabe: Career match record". thetennisbase.com. Madrid: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  2. Garcia, Gabriel. "Koji Watanabe: Tournament results". thetennisbase.com. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. Koji Watanabe at australianopen.com
  4. "Watanabe Kōji". Intai senshu. Japan Tennis Association. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.


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