Introducing world No 279 Grand Slam Champion Ena Shibahara who faces Emma Raducanu at Nottingham Open

The Nottingham Open qualifier naturally garnered more attention than the others since they were all in the main draw.

British fans were eager to see who they would be paired with Emma Raducanu in anticipation of her unpredictable start to her home grasscourt season.

The 2021 US Open winner is also aware that this coming week at the Nottingham Tennis Centre, she will play Ena Shibahara.

Here’s all you need to know about the Japanese fame, who will not be an easy opponent.

American-born Personality

Though it hasn’t always been the case, Ena Shibahara is a symbol of Japan.

The 26-year-old, who began her career representing her own country, was born in Mountain View, California, in February 1998.

Nonetheless, Ena Shibahara is of Japanese descent and has been the country’s representative since July 2019 after obtaining Japanese citizenship.

When she was eliminated in the first round at her home Olympic Games in 2021, she made her Billie Jean King Cup debut for Japan in 2020.

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Grand Slam Victory

Ena Shibahara can declare herself a Grand Slam winner after winning a mixed doubles championship at the 2022 French Open, just like her Nottingham opponent from the first round.

In tandem with Wesley Koolhof, the second seeds lost just one set en route to the championship match, when they triumphed over Ulrikke Eikeri and Joran Vliegen.

The Japanese player has advanced to multiple major finals; in 2023, she was a finalist in the women’s doubles competition at the Australian Open.

They defeated Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula to reach the final, but were defeated by Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova in Melbourne. (tenth seed Shuko Aoyama and her partner).

Doubles Tennis

Ena Shibahara regularly proves herself as one of the best players in the world in the discipline, so those huge major runs are no accident.

She has won ten titles, most often with her countrymate Aoyama, and advanced to five more finals, including her Melbourne run.

The two greatest championships the duo has won together were the Miami Open in 2021 and the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in 2023.

Playing together Wang Xiyu, Ena Shibahara and Wang reached the third round of the French Open but ultimately fell to Gauff and Siniakova, the winners.

Nottingham-based Initiative

Ena Shibahara isn’t renowned for her singles prowess. However, the world No. 279 has impressed by advancing through the WTA 250 qualifying round.

The Japanese player met 11th seed Maddison Inglis initially, but she prevailed 7-6(1), 6-2 after edging a close opening set.

In the last qualifying round, she overcame a set down against second seed and highly skilled prospect Alex Eala, winning 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-2 to go to the main event.

Shibahara’s draw with Raducanu is undoubtedly alluring; how will she perform up against one of the biggest names in the sport?

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