Sara Saito, an 18-year-old sensation from Japan, is quickly establishing herself as a future powerhouse in women’s tennis. Perhaps. She has made a notable transition from junior success to professional achievements, highlighted by her recent win at the W100 Biarritz in June 2024. Known for her powerful groundstrokes and keen tactical play, Saito is already catching our attention with some consistency and poise. This season alone, she secured two significant runner-up finishes early on, and her victory at Biarritz cemented her as a top contender in the WTA’s rising stars. Her ranking skyrocketed, reaching a career-high of No. 156 in July 2024.
From Junior Star to WTA Challenger
What sets Saito apart is her journey through the challenging ITF circuit. Despite her young age, she’s demonstrated maturity by consistently advancing in highly competitive fields. This year, she stunned audiences by reaching the qualifying rounds of the French Open, a significant leap for a player of her age. As a former World No. 2 junior, Saito has a solid foundation, having reached three Grand Slam doubles finals in 2023. Her development as a player shows a strong adaptability, whether she’s playing on clay or hard courts, as seen in her commanding performances.
A New Hope for Japanese Tennis
Saito’s recent triumph at the Japan Open, where she scored her first Top 50 victory against Elina Avanesyan, signals that her success isn’t just limited to ITF events but also stretches to WTA tournaments. Her rise draws comparisons to Naomi Osaka, another trailblazing Japanese tennis player who took the world by storm with her Grand Slam wins and global influence. While Saito’s career is still in its early stages, the impact Osaka had on Japanese tennis, inspiring a generation, is evident. Alongside stars like Osaka, Saito might become part of a new wave of talent that brings renewed hope to Japanese tennis.
And let’s not forget there’s another new talent on the block, Aoi Ito. This 20-year-old has also achieved a career-high WTA doubles ranking of 180 as of 16 September 2024. She has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Osaka Open as well.
With such remarkable growth in a short time, Sara Saito is undoubtedly one to watch in the coming seasons as she continues to climb the WTA rankings. Aoi Ito might do it too but for now, Saito has the edge.
Recent Finals of Sara Saito
June 2024 W100 Biarritz
Sara Saito defeated Margaux Rouvroy (Fra) 5-7 6-3 6-3
January 2024 W75 Burnie
Priscilla Hon (Aus) defeated Sara Saito 6-3 6-0
January 2024 W50 Nonthaburi
Antonia Ruzic (Cro) defeated Saito 6-1 6-3
October 2024 W25 Makinohara
Sara Saito defeated Thasaporn Naklo (Tha) 6-4 6-3