Tennis fans are used to surprises in Madrid, but even seasoned observers took note when Moyuka Uchijima powered past two seeded players to reach the Round of 16. In back-to-back matches, the unseeded player took down Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula, two former finalists at the tournament, without dropping a set. While many were seeing her for the first time, Uchijima’s path to this moment has been anything but overnight.
Her journey into the sport didn’t begin with a racket in hand. In fact, Uchijima only picked up tennis after trying out swimming and basketball. But once she started hitting balls at a court near her father’s office in Tokyo, the game began to take hold.
While the WTA Tour isn’t short on rising talents like Mirra Andreeva or teen sensation Alexandra Eala, Uchijima has spent years climbing the ranks, and it seems she’s finally in a position to break into the top.
How old is Moyuka Uchijima?
Moyuka Uchijima was born on August 11, 2001, which makes her 23 years old. She turned professional in 2017 and steadily climbed the ranks through the ITF circuit before making her mark on the WTA Tour.
Uchijima celebrates during the 2025 Madrid Open (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Moyuka Uchijima’s height
Uchijima stands at approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall. Her build and movement have helped her develop a balanced game suited to multiple surfaces, especially as she grows more comfortable on clay.
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Moyuka Uchijima’s ethnicity: Where is she from?
Uchijima is Japanese, though she was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She moved to Tokyo, Japan when she was a child.
Career’s highlights so far
Uchijima began playing tennis at age nine. After turning pro in 2017, she worked her way up the ranks through ITF events. In 2023, she won three straight ITF titles, which included a 19-match win streak that culminated in her qualifying for Roland Garros and reaching the second round. That run helped push her into the Top 100 for the first time.
In 2024, she scored her first Grand Slam main draw wins at both Roland Garros and the US Open. In doubles, she claimed her first WTA title in Jiujiang and reached the final in Hua Hin 2. Her singles breakthrough came at the Mutua Madrid Open, where she defeated two seeded opponents and moved to the verge of the Top 50.
Who is her coach?
Uchijima is coached by Alan Ma, with Mario Jelcic working as her fitness coach. She also trains in Guangzhou, China with players like Zheng Saisai.
