Sayaka Ishii

Not to be confused with Sayaka Ichii.
Sayaka Ishii
Ishii at the 2024 Cary Tennis Classic
Native name石井さやか
Country (sports) Japan
Born (2005-08-31) 31 August 2005 (age 19)
Tokyo, Japan
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$ 78,090
Singles
Career record90–50
Highest rankingNo. 203 (28 October 2024)
Current rankingNo. 203 (28 October 2024)
Doubles
Career record20–21
Highest rankingNo. 345 (21 October 2024)
Current rankingNo. 357 (28 October 2024)
Last updated on: 28 October 2024.

Sayaka Ishii (石井さやか, Ishii Sayaka, born 31 August 2005) is a Japanese professional tennis player. She has career-high rankings of world No. 203 in singles, achieved on 28 October 2024, and No. 345 in doubles, achieved on 21 October 2024.

Early life

Ishii was born in Shibuya, Tokyo.[1] Her father, Takuro Ishii, is a former professional baseball player.[2] She trained at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[3]

Junior career

In 2022, she reached the final of the Osaka Mayor's Cup, but lost to compatriot Sara Saito.[4]

Professional career

2024: WTA Tour debut and maiden quarterfinal, top 250

In July, she and compatriot Naho Sato won the doubles title at the Figueira da Foz International Ladies Open.[5] The following month, she made her WTA Tour debut after qualifying for Tennis in the Land.[6] She lost to third seed Kateřina Siniaková in three sets.[7] In October, she qualified for her second main draw at the Toray Pan Pacific Open with a defeat over top qualifying seed Clara Tauson. She then recorded her first WTA Tour wins over compatriot and lucky loser Sara Saito[8][9][10] and qualifier Zeynep Sönmez to reach her first WTA 500-level quarterfinal.[11][12][13][14] Ishii withdrew with an abdominal injury before her last eight match with sixth seed Diana Shnaider.[15][16][17] As a result she reached a new career-high, three spots shy of the top 200 on 28 October 2024 raising close to 80 positions up in the singles rankings, having been ranked No. 279 in the beginning of the tournament.[18]

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 3 (1 title, 2 runner–ups)

Legend
W25/35 tournaments (1–1)
W15 tournaments (0–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–2)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Jun 2022 ITF Monastir, Tunisia W15 Hard Malta Francesca Curmi 2–6, 6–4, 5–7
Loss 0–2 Oct 2023 ITF Redding, US W25 Hard United States Iva Jovic 4–6, 2–6
Win 1–2 Apr 2024 ITF Osaka, Japan W35 Hard Canada Stacey Fung 6–1, 3–6, 6–3

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Legend
W100 tournaments (1–0)
W35 tournaments (0–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–1)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Feb 2024 ITF Traralgon, Australia W35 Hard Thailand Lanlana Tararudee Japan Mana Kawamura
China Liu Fangzhou 		7–6(4), 3–6, [11–13]
Win 1–1 Jul 2024 Figueira da Foz Open, Portugal W100 Hard Japan Naho Sato United Kingdom Madeleine Brooks
United Kingdom Sarah Beth Grey 		7–6(1), 7–5

References

  1. ^ Uchida, Akatsuki (21 May 2024). "石井琢朗＆プロテニスプレーヤー石井さやか・父娘対談《前編》「男の子だったら間違いなく野球選手になったんじゃないかな」". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  2. ^ "テニス・石井さやか、念願のプロ初優勝 元プロ野球選手の父の教え". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). 20 April 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  3. ^ 七緒, 金光 (7 May 2023). "夢はグランドスラム優勝！ テニスプレイヤー石井さやか選手 - 渋谷新聞". 渋谷新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  4. ^ McLean, Ross (17 October 2022). "Osaka Mayor's Cup: key learnings from the latest junior Grade A event". International Tennis Federation. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  5. ^ Ribeiro Lança, Gaspar (27 July 2024). "Sayaka Ishii e Naho Sato celebram lado a lado pela primeira vez na Figueira da Foz". Raquetc (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  6. ^ Smoliński, Rafał (18 August 2024). "Kolejny turniej w stanie Ohio. Trudne zadanie obrończyni tytułu". Sportowe Fakty (in Polish). Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Siniakova saves three match points, escapes teenage qualifier Ishii". Women's Tennis Association. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  8. ^ "MATCH POINT: World No. 279 Sayaka Ishii demolishes No. 158 Sara Saito in Tokyo first round". Tennis.com. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Teenage qualifier Ishii earns first career tour-level win in Tokyo". Women's Tennis Association. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Tokyo: Ishii books spot in second round". Tennis Majors. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Japanese qualifier Ishii, 19, battles past Sonmez into Tokyo quarters". Women's Tennis Association. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Andreescu advances to Tokyo quarters as Haddad Maia retires due to injury". Women's Tennis Association. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Tokyo Open: Ishii knocks out Saito". Tennis Majors. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  14. ^ Coskrey, Jason (23 October 2024). "Leylah Fernandez into quarters in Tokyo as teen Sayaka Ishii continues impressive run". The Japan Times. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  15. ^ "WTA roundup: Sofia Kenin upsets Daria Kasatkina in Tokyo". Reuters. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Tokyo Open: Shnaider reaches last four". Tennis Majors. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  17. ^ Nakamoto, Morichika (25 October 2024). "Tennis: Japanese teen Ishii withdraws from Pan Pacific Open q'finals". Kyodo News. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Rankings Watch: Kenin, Danilovic surge; four new career highs in Top 20". WTATennis. 28 October 2024.