Naoko Sawamatsu

This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Naoko Sawamatsu
沢松奈生子

Country (sports)	Japan
Residence	Nishinomiya, Japan
Born	(1973-03-23) 23 March 1973 (age 48) Nishinomiya, Japan
Plays	Right-handed
Prize money	$1,107,264
Singles
Career record	205–43
Career titles	4 WTA, 2 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 14 (6 February 1995)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open	QF (1995)
French Open	4R (1991)
Wimbledon	4R (1992, 1994)
US Open	3R (1992, 1995)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games	2R (1996)
Doubles
Career record	16–34
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 98 (30 January 1995)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open	3R (1995)
French Open	1R (1992)
Wimbledon	2R (1992)
US Open	1R (1992)

Naoko Sawamatsu (沢松奈生子, Sawamatsu Naoko, born on 23 March 1973) is a former professional tennis player.

In her career, she won four singles titles on the WTA Tour. Sawamatsu reached a career-high ranking of world No. 14, on 6 February 1995. At the time of the 1995 Australian Open, her family survived the Great Hanshin earthquake, and Sawamatsu went on to achieve her best Grand Slam result at Melbourne Park, reaching the quarterfinals by defeating compatriot Ai Sugiyama, Laurence Courtois, Kimiko Date in the third round, Mary Joe Fernandez in the fourth round before losing to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.

Her most significant title came in 1993 at Strasbourg, when she defeated clay-courter Judith Wiesner in the final. Sawamatsu had much success at Strasbourg reaching the semifinals in 1991, final in 1992 losing to Judith Wiesner.

She retired from professional tennis after losing in the second round of the 1998 Japan Open to Monica Seles in a three-set match. Sawamatsu had wins over the following players during her career: Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Kimiko Date, Mary Joe Fernandez, Amanda Coetzer, and Conchita Martínez. She was the first player to be beaten by Venus Williams in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament, at the French Open in 1997.^[1]

Sawamatsu's has a career win/loss record in singles of 205-143.

Since retirement, she has been involved in the development of sport in her native country. Sawamatsu is the daughter of tennis player Junko Sawamatsu and the niece of 1975 Wimbledon ladies doubles champion Kazuko Sawamatsu.

WTA career finals[]

Singles: 7 (4 titles, 3 runner-ups)[]

Result	W/L	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1–0	Apr 1990	Singapore	Hard	Sarah Loosemore	7–6(7–5), 3–6, 6–4
Loss	1–1	Apr 1991	Pattaya, Thailand	Hard	Yayuk Basuki	2–6, 2–6
Loss	1–2	May 1992	Strasbourg, France	Clay	Judith Wiesner	1–6, 3–6
Loss	1–3	Jan 1993	Melbourne, Australia	Hard	Amanda Coetzer	2–6, 3–6
Win	2–3	May 1993	Strasbourg, France	Clay	Judith Wiesner	4–6, 6–1, 6–3
Win	3–3	Apr 1994	Singapore	Hard	Florencia Labat	7–5, 7–5
Win	4–3	Apr 1997	Jakarta, Indonesia	Hard	Yuka Yoshida	6–3, 6–2

ITF Circuit finals[]

Singles: 2 (2–0)[]

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1.	15 October 1989	ITF Nagasaki, Japan	Hard	Akiko Gooden	6–4, 6–0
Win	2.	25 March 1990	ITF Moulins, France	Carpet (i)	Claudia Chabalgoity	6-3, 6-1

Doubles: 1 (0–1)[]

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1.	7 November 1993	ITF Saga, Japan	Grass	Mana Endo	Ei Iida Maya Kidowaki	2-6, 6-3, 2-6

Performance timeline[]

References[]

External links[]

• Naoko Sawamatsu at the Women's Tennis Association
• Naoko Sawamatsu at the International Tennis Federation
• Naoko Sawamatsu at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)