Shuzo Matsuoka
Encyclopedia
, is a former professional tennis
player from Japan.
, and captured the doubles title in Auckland
.
In 1992, Matsuoka became the first Japanese player to win a singles event on the ATP
Tour when he captured the title in Seoul
. He was also runner-up at the prestigious grass court
tournament at Queen's Club
that year.
Matsuoka's best performance at a Grand Slam
event came at Wimbledon in 1995, where he reached the quarter-finals before being defeated by Pete Sampras
's after four sets 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6–2.
At the US Open
in 1995, Matsuoka was left writhing in pain on court while suffering from a severe case of leg cramps during his first round match against Petr Korda
. The rules at the time meant that Matsuoka would have forfeited the match if he had gotten medical attention, so he was left to suffer until he was defaulted for delaying the match. The incident led to a change in the rules of professional tennis to allow players to receive medical treatment for cramps during matches.
Matsuoka's career-high world rankings were World No. 46 in singles (in 1992) and World No. 95 in doubles (in 1989). His career prize-money earnings totalled US$1,117,112. He retired from the professional tour in April 1998.
. Kei Nishikori
, Japan's current No. 1, attended the camp when he was 12 years old.
Known for his passionate and energetic character, Matsuoka has also appeared in numerous variety programs, as well as in a cameo role for a television drama series. In 2008 Matsuoka was featured in ten television commercials, tying him with Takuya Kimura
for the celebrity to be featured in the most number of television commercials that year.
He has become something of an internet meme
on video sharing websites such as Nico Nico Douga
and YouTube
, where users create MAD movies out of videos found on the front page of his official site.http://www.shuzo.co.jp/
announcer Emiko Taguchi in 1998, and has three children. His father, Isao Matsuoka, is chairman of Tohota Co., Ltd., the Japanese film studio known for its Godzilla
movies as well as numerous Akira Kurosawa
films.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from Japan.
Professional career
Matsuoka turned professional in 1986. In 1989, he finished runner-up in the top-level tournament at WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, and captured the doubles title in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
.
In 1992, Matsuoka became the first Japanese player to win a singles event on the ATP
Association of Tennis Professionals
The Association of Tennis Professionals or ATP was formed in 1972 by Donald Dell, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale to protect the interests of male professional tennis players. Since 1990, the association has organized the worldwide tennis tour for men and linked the title of the tour with the...
Tour when he captured the title in Seoul
ATP Seoul
The Seoul Open is a defunct Grand Prix and ATP Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1987 to 1996. It was held at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center in Seoul in South Korea and played on outdoor hard courts.-Singles:-Doubles:-External links:*...
. He was also runner-up at the prestigious grass court
Grass court
A grass court is one of the four different types of tennis court. Grass courts are made of rye grass in different compositions depending on the tournament...
tournament at Queen's Club
Queen's Club Championships
The Queen's Club Championships is an annual tournament for male tennis players, held on grass courts at the Queen's Club in West Kensington, London. Between 1970 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The event is now an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament on the Association of...
that year.
Matsuoka's best performance at a Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
event came at Wimbledon in 1995, where he reached the quarter-finals before being defeated by Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras is a retired American tennis player and former world no. 1. During his 15-year tour career, he won 14 Grand Slam singles titles and became recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time....
's after four sets 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6–2.
At the US Open
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
in 1995, Matsuoka was left writhing in pain on court while suffering from a severe case of leg cramps during his first round match against Petr Korda
Petr Korda
Petr Korda is a former professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. He is best known for winning the Australian Open in 1998 and for testing positive for the banned substance, nandrolone, following a match at Wimbledon that same year.-Career:Korda was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia.He first...
. The rules at the time meant that Matsuoka would have forfeited the match if he had gotten medical attention, so he was left to suffer until he was defaulted for delaying the match. The incident led to a change in the rules of professional tennis to allow players to receive medical treatment for cramps during matches.
Matsuoka's career-high world rankings were World No. 46 in singles (in 1992) and World No. 95 in doubles (in 1989). His career prize-money earnings totalled US$1,117,112. He retired from the professional tour in April 1998.
Post retirement
Since his retirement from tennis Matsuoka has become a popular television sports commentator in Japan. He hosts the "Shuzo Challenge", an annual tennis camp for young children by the JTAJapan Tennis Association
Japan Tennis Association is the governing body for professional and amateur tennis in Japan. Founded in 1922 and recognized by International Lawn Tennis Federation in 1923, it is one of the oldest organized sport organization in Asia.Japan Tennis Association operates all of the Japanese national...
. Kei Nishikori
Kei Nishikori
is a Japanese tennis player, currently ranked 25th in the world, as of 10 October 2011. He began playing tennis at the age of five, and on 17 July 2007 he qualified for his first ATP main draw event at the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles, California at the age of 17.-Junior career:Nishikori won...
, Japan's current No. 1, attended the camp when he was 12 years old.
Known for his passionate and energetic character, Matsuoka has also appeared in numerous variety programs, as well as in a cameo role for a television drama series. In 2008 Matsuoka was featured in ten television commercials, tying him with Takuya Kimura
Takuya Kimura
, nicknamed , is a Japanese singer and actor. He is also a member of the Japanese idol group SMAP. Most of the TV dramas he starred in produced high ratings in Japan...
for the celebrity to be featured in the most number of television commercials that year.
He has become something of an internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
on video sharing websites such as Nico Nico Douga
Nico Nico Douga
is a popular video sharing website in Japan managed by Niwango, a subsidiary of Dwango. Its nickname is "Niconico" or "Nico-dō", where "nikoniko" is the Japanese ideophone for smiling. Nico Nico Douga is the thirteenth most visited website in Japan...
and YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, where users create MAD movies out of videos found on the front page of his official site.http://www.shuzo.co.jp/
Private life
Matsuoka married former TV TokyoTV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
announcer Emiko Taguchi in 1998, and has three children. His father, Isao Matsuoka, is chairman of Tohota Co., Ltd., the Japanese film studio known for its Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
movies as well as numerous Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Kurosawa directed 30 filmsIn 1946, Kurosawa co-directed, with Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto, the feature Those Who Make Tomorrow ;...
films.
Singles titles (4)
| Legend (Singles) |
| Grand Slam (0) |
| Tennis Masters Cup (0) |
| ATP Masters Series (0) |
| ATP Tour (1) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the Final | Score in the Final |
| 1. | 1992 |  SeoulATP Seoul The Seoul Open is a defunct Grand Prix and ATP Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1987 to 1996. It was held at the Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center in Seoul in South Korea and played on outdoor hard courts.-Singles:-Doubles:-External links:*... |
Hard |  Todd WoodbridgeTodd Woodbridge Todd Andrew Woodbridge is an Australian former tennis player. He was born in Sydney and turned professional in 1988. He is best known for his successful Doubles partnerships with Mark Woodforde and later Jonas Björkman... |
6–3, 4–6, 7–5 |