Ai Sugiyama

Ai Sugiyama is a Japanese former professional tennis player who reached the World No. 1 ranking in women's doubles and a career-high singles ranking of World No. 8.

She held the all-time record for a remarkable 62 consecutive Grand Slam main-draw appearances and won a total of 6 singles and 38 doubles titles on the WTA Tour, including four major titles.

Player Profile

Ai Sugiyama was born on July 5, 1975, in Yokohama, Japan.

She stands 163 cm tall and she plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand. She currently resides in Kanagawa.

Professional Career

Ai Sugiyama turned professional in October 1992. Her career was defined by incredible longevity and consistent performance at the highest level of the sport. She holds the all-time record for most consecutive Grand Slam main-draw appearances, with 62, a record that stood for both male and female players until Roger Federer surpassed it in 2015.

While excelling in both singles and doubles, Sugiyama's greatest success came on the doubles circuit.

She became the World No. 1 in women's doubles in October 2000 and won a total of 38 doubles titles. Her major doubles victories include the US Open in 2000 with Julie Halard-Decugis, and both the French Open and Wimbledon in 2003 with Kim Clijsters. She also won a mixed doubles major title at the US Open in 1999 with Mahesh Bhupathi. In doubles, she reached the WTA Tour Championships finals in 2003 and 2007.

In her singles career, Sugiyama won six titles and achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 8 in February 2004. Her best Grand Slam singles results were quarterfinal appearances at the Australian Open in 2000 and Wimbledon in 2004.

She also reached the fourth round of the French Open multiple times and the fourth round of the US Open multiple times. Sugiyama participated in the WTA Tour Championships round-robin stage in 2003 and reached the singles quarterfinals and doubles semifinals at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Ai Sugiyama retired from professional tennis in October 2009.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 492–419
• Career titles: 6 WTA, 1 ITF
• Highest ranking: No. 8 (February 9, 2004)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – QF (2000)
• French Open – 4R (1995, 2000, 2003)
• Wimbledon – QF (2004)
• US Open – 4R (2003, 2004)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• WTA Tour Championships – RR (2003)
• Olympic Games – QF (2004)

Doubles

• Career record: 566–295
• Career titles: 38 WTA, 4 ITF
• Highest ranking: No. 1 (October 23, 2000)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – F (2009)
• French Open – W (2003)
• Wimbledon – W (2003)
• US Open – W (2000)

Other tournaments (Doubles)

• WTA Tour Championships – F (2003, 2007)
• Olympic Games – SF – 4th (2004)

Mixed Doubles

• Career record: 35–21
• Career titles: 1

Best Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 2R (1999, 2001, 2003, 2006)
• French Open – SF (2000)
• Wimbledon – SF (2004)
• US Open – W (1999)