From Juniors to the Tour, Japan’s Sonobe Finds Success at 17

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | TuesdayFebruary 4, 2025

The transition from juniors to execs is popping out to be manageable for 17-year-old Wakane Sonobe of Japan. Weeks after successful the Aussie Open Ladies’ singles title, Sonobe made essentially the most of a wild card into qualifying at Abu Dhabi. She earned two High 100 wins, over American Hailey Baptiste and Spain’s Cristina Bucsa, to succeed in the principle draw.

On Monday she knocked off Fifty fifth-ranked Yuan Yue of China for her first WTA most important draw win.

Sonobe, ranked 837 this week, is already displaying indicators of being a possible star on tour. She turned 17 two weeks in the past in Melbourne, however don’t let the age idiot you – the southpaw has a mature recreation full with a robust lefty serve and power-packed floor strokes. She is also unintimidated by the online, and has been identified to swoop in and put away just a few volleys.

Get to know 17-year-old Japanese lefty Wakana Sonobe, who made a WTA most important draw successful debut in Abu Dhabi this week.

👉https://t.co/xUgqPuOTnd pic.twitter.com/dagODlRBBG

— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 4, 2025

Sonobe is 9-0 throughout all ranges to date in 2025. Final yr she received 17 of 27 matches on the skilled degree, together with a loss within the first spherical of qualifying at Abu Dhabi.

Born in Saitama, Japan, Sonobe was awarded a scholarship to maneuver to coach on the IMG Academy in Florida, courtesy of the Morita Tennis Fund — the identical group that despatched ATP star Kei Nishikori and Shintaro Mochizuki to Bradenton up to now.

In line with Reem Abulleil, who’s masking Abu Dhabi for WTATennis.com this week, the Japanese junior had an opportunity to hit with Nishikori in Florida and credited him with giving her some useful classes. Her actual idol, nonetheless is Petra Kvitova.

Sonobe, who turned Japan’s first Ladies’ champion in Melbourne two weeks in the past, is hoping that her subsequent strikes will probably be made on the professional circuit. She is going to face both Ons Jabeur or Jelena Ostapenko within the second spherical.

Sonobe fired 36 winners in her 6-4, 6-3 win over Yuan, which included a comeback from 3-0 within the second set.

She is the third 2008 participant to notch a win on the WTA Tour together with Laura Samson and Emerson Jones. Sonobe confronted simply two break factors in her match towards Yuan, dropping serve simply as soon as and changing 4 breaks of her personal.

Control this gifted lefty, who might be working her manner up the rankings over the subsequent 52 weeks.