Kurumi Nara facts for kids
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Nara at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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| Country (sports) |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Residence | Hyōgo, Japan |
| Born | 30 December 1991 Osaka, Japan |
| Height | 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) |
| Turned pro | April 2009 |
| Retired | September 2022 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach | Natsuki Harada |
| Prize money | $2,868,337 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 385–320 (54.61%) |
| Career titles | 1 WTA, 7 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 32 (18 August 2014) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2014) |
| French Open | 2R (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2010, 2014, 2015, 2016) |
| US Open | 3R (2013, 2017) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 51–71 (41.8%) |
| Career titles | 3 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 109 (2 May 2016) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2015, 2016, 2017) |
| French Open | 1R (2014, 2015, 2017) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2015) |
| US Open | 1R (2014) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | 12–8 |
Kurumi Nara (奈良 くるみ, Nara Kurumi, born 30 December 1991) is a Japanese former professional tennis player. She started playing tennis at a very young age and became a professional player in 2009.
During her career, Kurumi Nara won one singles title on the WTA Tour. She also earned seven singles titles and three doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. Her highest singles ranking was world No. 32, which she reached on August 18, 2014. In doubles, her highest ranking was No. 109 on May 2, 2016. She also proudly represented her country, Japan Fed Cup team, in team competitions, with a good win-loss record.
Contents
Early Tennis Journey
Kurumi Nara began playing tennis when she was just three years old. She trained at the Esaka Tennis Center in Osaka, learning from famous Japanese tennis coaches. People quickly noticed her talent, and she was seen as a tennis prodigy.
Winning Junior Championships
In 2002, when she was ten, Kurumi Nara came in second place at the All Japan Primary School Tennis Championships. The very next year, in 2003, she won that same tournament!
As she got older, she continued to win. In 2004, she won the girls' singles title at the All Japan Middle School Tennis Championship. In 2007, she became the Under-18 singles champion at the All-Japan Junior Tennis Championships.
Grand Slam Junior Success
Kurumi also did well in junior events around Japan. She had great success in doubles on the ITF Junior Circuit with her partner, Misaki Doi. They even made it to the finals of the girls' doubles at the Wimbledon Championships in 2007, finishing second. This was a big achievement, as they were only the second Japanese women's doubles team to reach a junior Grand Slam final since 1993.
The Nara/Doi team continued their strong performance, reaching the junior doubles semifinals at the 2007 US Open and 2008 Wimbledon Championships.
In singles, Kurumi Nara also shined. In 2007, she was the first Japanese woman to win the Osaka Mayor's Cup in five years. She also had impressive wins against higher-ranked players in the All Japan Tennis Championships that year. In 2008, she teamed up with Kimiko Date-Krumm to win the Kangaroo Cup and the Hamanako Open.
Professional Tennis Career
Kurumi Nara officially became a professional tennis player in April 2009. That same year, she won the All Japan Tennis Championships.
First Grand Slam Appearances (2010)
In 2010, Kurumi Nara played in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time at the French Open. She won a very long qualifying match that lasted over four hours! She also qualified for Wimbledon, where she won her first main-draw Grand Slam match.
Climbing the Ranks (2011–2013)
After a few years of trying, Kurumi Nara made a breakthrough at the 2013 US Open. She won three qualifying matches to enter the main draw. Then, she won her first-round match and surprised everyone by beating the 19th-seeded player, Sorana Cîrstea, to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Later that year, she reached the semifinals of the Japan Women's Open in her home city.
Winning a WTA Title and Top 50 Ranking (2014)
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The year 2014 was a big one for Kurumi Nara. She started strong at the Auckland Open, reaching the quarterfinals. At the Australian Open, she made it to the third round.
In February, she won her first-ever WTA Tour title at the Rio Open in Brazil! She beat the top-seeded player, Klára Zakopalová, in the final. This big win helped her enter the top 50 players in the world, reaching No. 48.
Later in 2014, she continued to play well, reaching the final of the Washington Open in the United States. She also reached the doubles final at the same tournament with her partner, Hiroko Kuwata. She ended the year ranked No. 44 in the world.
Staying in the Top 100 (2015)
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In 2015, Kurumi Nara started the year by reaching the semifinals of the Hobart International. She continued to compete in major tournaments, reaching the third round of the Miami Open. At the French Open and Wimbledon, she reached the second round. At the US Open, she upset a higher-ranked player in the first round before losing in the second.
Retirement (2022)
Kurumi Nara played her final professional tournament in September 2022 at the Pan Pacific Open. She retired from professional tennis after a successful career.
How Kurumi Nara Played
Kurumi Nara was known for her patient style of play. She didn't often win points with one big shot. Instead, she would slowly build up the point, making her shots more angled or powerful over time. She liked to finish points with a strong forehand or a volley at the net.
Even though she wasn't very tall, her playing style was aggressive. She focused on changing the momentum of the game in her favor and then finishing the point. Her powerful forehand was her main weapon on the court.
Tennis Gear
Kurumi Nara preferred playing on hardcourts, which are common in many tournaments. She used a Srixon brand racquet and wore Dunlop Sport shoes during her matches.
Career Highlights
Kurumi Nara had a memorable career, including winning a WTA singles title and several ITF titles. She also had a notable win over a top-10 player, Svetlana Kuznetsova, at the US Open in 2017.
See also
In Spanish: Kurumi Nara para niños
