Former Professional Tennis Player Rika Fujiwara (44), French Open Doubles Semifinalist, Signs Player Contract with Pickleball's Premier 'PPA TOUR'!

Ambiente LLC (Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) announces that pickleball player Rika Fujiwara, whom they manage, has signed a player contract with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), which operates the world's premier professional pickleball tour. ## World No. 18, Asia No. 1. The 'Astonishing Evolution' Shown by a 44-Year-Old Active Athlete Rika Fujiwara traveled the world as a professional tennis player for 20 years. In doubles, she reached the semifinals of the French Open, quarterfinals of the Australian Open, and semifinals of the WTA Tour Finals. In singles, she competed in the main draw of all Grand Slams (four major tournaments) and was selected for the national team (now BJK Cup) for 11 years, leading Japanese tennis for a long time before retiring in 2020. After retirement, she discovered pickleball and began competing in 2024. In just two years, she achieved a ranking of world No. 18 and Asia No. 1 in women's singles (as of March 18, 2026) in the latest rating system (DUPR). Among the top 50 players in the world rankings, who are mostly in their 20s and 30s, 44-year-old Fujiwara is the oldest ranked player and aims for further advancement. In the 2025 season, in addition to winning a bronze medal in women's singles at the PPA Tour Asia Vietnam Open, she reached the Round of 16 in women's singles at the 'PPA Tour Pickleball World Championships', the world's premier tournament held in Dallas, Texas, USA, in November. She has already proven her world-class ability. ## About PPA TOUR The PPA TOUR is the world's premier professional pickleball tour based in the United States. It currently enjoys enthusiastic support as the 'fastest-growing sport' in America and has evolved into a massive professional sports platform. Only a handful of elite athletes worldwide can sign a contract with the PPA, and top athletes from other sports, including former men's tennis world No. 8 Jack Sock, are increasingly joining, making the competitive level more sophisticated year by year. **** 1. PPA ASIA 1000 Hanoi Cup (Vietnam) April 1-5, 2026 Her debut as a contracted player. World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters (USA) has also announced her participation, and Fujiwara will challenge for the world's top as the Asian queen. 2. Participation in the main PPA Tour in the US She will sequentially participate in high-level tours held in the US, the home of pickleball. 3. PPA ASIA 500 Sansan Tokyo Open 2026 July 1-4, 2026 The only official PPA Tour Asia event held in Japan. In addition, she is scheduled to participate in other PPA Tours in the US and various Asian countries, as well as PPA Tour Asia tournaments. ## Encounter with Pickleball and its Charm After a 20-year professional tennis career, Fujiwara picked up a paddle in 2024. What she saw was the unique sight of pickleball, where people of all ages and genders sweat on the same court and, after the match, enjoy friendly interaction regardless of whether they were opponents or teammates. She was attracted to the cultural background of this sport, which creates 'connections between people' beyond winning and losing, and decided to challenge the world in just a few months. While fighting with her tennis experience as a weapon, she has made it her new mission to establish this new community culture in Japan. ## As a Leader Nurturing the Next Generation: Appointed as Pickleball X Coach In parallel with her playing activities, Fujiwara has been serving as a coach for 'Pickleball X', a player development project aimed at producing top professionals from Japan who can compete globally, since 2025. She is dedicated to raising the competitive level in Japan by passing on the strategic insight and experience gained from her long professional tennis tour career to the next generation of players. She embodies a new athlete image as both a player and a coach, 'competing globally herself and nurturing the next generation through her example'. **■ Comment from Rika Fujiwara** "A challenge at 44. I now feel the greatest fulfillment in competing as a professional again, clashing with young, powerful players on the same court. However, the reason I am so fascinated by pickleball is not just the pursuit of victory. While it's a serious competition across the net, once you step off the court, everyone connects with smiles and celebrates each other, regardless of age or background. I hope to be a presence that can convey the warm community culture unique to pickleball and the wonderfulness of being able to play together across generations through my activities. I want to bring the infinite possibilities and joy of this sport to everyone in Japan." ## Rika Fujiwara Profile Date of Birth: September 19, 1981 (44 years old) Place of Birth: Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture ・Main Achievements (Pickleball): DUPR Women's Singles World Ranking 18th / Asia Ranking 1st PPA World Championships (2025) Singles Best 16 PPA TOUR ASIA Vietnam Open (2025) Singles Bronze Medal ・Main Achievements (Tennis): French Open Doubles Best 4 (2002) Australian Open Doubles Best 8 (2002) Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open Singles Main Draw Participation WTA Championships (Tour Finals) Best 4 (2002) Fed Cup (now BJK Cup) Japan Representative for 11 years All Japan Championships Winner Total 6 times (Singles 2 times, Doubles 4 times) Career High World Ranking Singles 84th, Doubles 13th