Yosuke Watanuki has loved a powerful begin to the 12 months following a career-best season on the ATP Challenger Tour. The Japanese participant is doing all of it together with his brother by his facet.
The 24-year-old, who’s competing at this week’s Monterrey Challenger, is coached by his brother Keisuke, who’s roughly 5 years older. Yosuke, World No. 130 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, claims they’re a dynamic duo.
“I believe it really works for me and makes us stronger,” Watanuki mentioned. “He cares about me a lot. Typically folks suppose it isn’t ok as a result of he wasn’t a high participant earlier than, he is younger, or as a result of he hasn’t coached a Prime-50 participant. However we’re going up collectively, it is good for us. He can hit and he is good with the psychological facet of the sport. I believe that is actually good for me. Typically we combat, like brothers do!”
Watanuki has persistently saved his coach’s nook throughout the household. Earlier than Keisuke got here on board, the eldest of the three brothers, Yusuke, was his full-time coach till about three years in the past.
After a powerful end to 2022, Watanuki isn’t promoting himself quick for what he can obtain this 12 months. The previous junior World No. 2 has his eyes set on climbing into the Prime 100 and past to have a shot at fulfilling a childhood dream.
“My aim for this 12 months is Prime 80,” Watanuki mentioned. “As a result of subsequent 12 months is the [Paris] Olympics, I actually wish to play there. It is my dream. And Prime 80 will give me an opportunity to play the Olympic video games subsequent 12 months.”
Watanuki’s late-season surge in 2022 wasn’t with out challenges. Three video games into his first-round match on the ATP 250 in Seoul, the Japanese star rolled his ankle and was pressured to retire in opposition to Jaume Munar. Watanuki then forfeited his wild card on the ATP 500 occasion in Tokyo, which might’ve been his first tour-level occasion on residence soil since 2018, when he superior by qualifying en path to his maiden tour-level main-draw victory (d. Haase).
Yosuke Watanuki in motion on the 2023 Canberra Challenger. Credit score: Anastasia Kachalkova
After recovering from the ankle harm, Watanuki went on a sizzling streak. He received 14 of 15 Challenger-level matches to shut the season, together with back-to-back titles on the Kobe and Yokkaichi Challengers. The primary week of the Asian Challenger swing, Watanuki was a finalist in Yokohama, Japan, earlier than successful 10 consecutive matches.
“I used to be enjoying effectively these three weeks,” Watanuki mentioned. “I used to be getting back from harm, I hadn’t performed that effectively the primary half of the 12 months, and my rating had dropped. However I attempted to play my greatest and I used to be stunned to be within the Yokohama ultimate. Then I went to Kobe, beautiful place, I received my first Challenger title there (2019). The primary week, Yokohama, I used to be so joyful. The second I used to be extra stunned [to be in another final].”
This 12 months, Watanuki was a semi-finalist on the season-opening Canberra Challenger, the place he misplaced to eventual champion Marton Fucsovics. Watanuki constructed upon his momentum to qualify for his maiden Grand Slam on the 2023 Australian Open.
“Once I obtained into the primary draw, I used to be so joyful as a result of I attempted to qualify for a Grand Slam seven occasions earlier than,” Watanuki mentioned. “I had made the ultimate spherical of qualifying two occasions and misplaced each. I used to be a bit bit nervous this time as a result of I needed to make a Grand Slam this 12 months for certain. Once I received the ultimate spherical of qualifying, I used to be so joyful. The primary match, I used to be so excited to play.”
Watanuki earned a straight-sets victory over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech within the opening spherical earlier than falling to eventual quarter-finalist Sebastian Korda.
Yosuke Watanuki made his Grand Slam debut as a qualifier on the 2023 Australian Open. Credit score: Martin Hold/Getty Pictures
The Saitama native is the third highest-ranked Japanese male, solely behind Yoshihito Nishioka and Taro Daniel. Watanuki attracts inspiration from former World No. 4 and countryman Kei Nishikori, who was a finalist on the 2014 US Open and earned the bronze medal on the 2016 Rio Olympic video games.
Watanuki shared that he admires what Nishikori has achieved and the way he’s carried the torch for Japanese tennis the previous decade. Nishikori, who has been plagued with accidents, has not competed since October 2021. The 12-time tour titlist has even provided recommendation to Watanuki.
“Kei made historical past,” Watanuki mentioned. “A Japanese man to be World No. 4, that is good for [other Japanese players] as a result of we expect, ‘We might be there as a result of one other Japanese participant is there!’ Additionally, Naomi [Osaka] successful 4 Grand Slams. They offer me a lot energy like, ‘I might be there!’
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“Additionally, Kei advised me some issues technically and mentally. It isn’t straightforward to get recommendation from a Prime-4 participant, however that’s so good for me.”
Life on the Challenger Tour isn’t straightforward. With fixed touring and stress mounting as gamers purpose for his or her skilled breakthrough, Watanuki has a singular escape from tennis.
“Once I keep in Japan, I like to drive my automotive after midnight, late-night drives!” Watanuki mentioned. “Tennis might be so anxious, a lot stress. Once I drive in that second, it is like I really feel nothing. It’s enjoyable.”
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