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Lily Miyazaki
Lily Miyazaki
from Wikipedia

Yuriko Lily Miyazaki (born 11 November 1995) is a Japanese-born British tennis player. Miyazaki has career-high rankings by the WTA of 132 in singles and 184 in doubles.[2] She has won seven singles titles and eight doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.

Key Information

Early life, junior and college career

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Miyazaki was born in Tokyo, Japan, and lived there before moving to Switzerland and settling in London aged 10. She trained at Sutton Tennis Academy up until the age of 18. She switched to British nationality in March 2022, as Japanese citizens are not allowed to hold dual citizenship.[3][4]

Miyazaki attended the University of Oklahoma (2014–2019), where she completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics followed by a master's degree in information technology management.[3] She played No. 1 singles all four years at Oklahoma, recording an overall record of 96–35, and was named to the All-Big 12 first team three times.[5]

Professional

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Miyazaki made her WTA Tour main-draw debut at the 2021 Transylvania Open, partnering Anastasia Gasanova in the doubles tournament. She made her WTA Tour singles debut at the 2022 Lyon Open, after qualifying for the main draw.[6] Miyazaki switched from representing Japan to Great Britain in March 2022.[4]

In June 2022, it was announced that Miyazaki had been awarded a main-draw wildcard for the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, where she made her Grand Slam debut.[7][8]

In October 2022, Miyazaki won her first $60k title in Glasgow beating former top 40 player, compatriot Heather Watson, in the final, coming back from a set and a double break down.[9]

In September 2023, she made her debut at the US Open and recorded her first win at this major as a qualifier. She had her breakthrough by coming through three rounds of qualifying defeating 23rd seed Daria Snigur, and Valeria Savinykh in straight sets, and ninth seed Viktória Hrunčáková in the final round.[10] In the first round of the main draw, she drew former top-50 player Margarita Betova, who had entered on a protected ranking following injuries and a maternity break. Miyazaki won in straight sets, achieving her first ever Grand Slam singles win. She subsequently lost in the second round to 15th seed Belinda Bencic winning three games in each set,[11] and rose to a career-high ranking of No. 154 on 11 September 2023, after the event.[12]

Given a wildcard entry into the main draw at Wimbledon, Miyazaki won her first-round match against Tamara Korpatsch 6–2, 6–1,[13][14] before being double-bagelled by 12th seed Daria Kasatkina in round two.[15][16] Partnering with Emily Appleton, she was also given a wildcard entry into the women's doubles, reaching the second round with a win over Wang Xiyu and Zhu Lin in a deciding set tie-break,[17] before losing to top seeds Elise Mertens and Hsieh Su-wei in round two.[18]

At the 2024 Jasmin Open in Monastir, Tunisia, Miyazaki defeated Alycia Parks,[19] in the first round before losing to Antonia Ružić.[20]

Grand Slam performance timelines

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Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# P# DNQ A Z# PO G S B NMS NTI P NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Singles

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Tournament 2022 2023 2024 SR W–L Win %
Australian Open Q1 Q3 Q1 0 / 0 0–0  – 
French Open Q2 Q1 Q1 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Wimbledon 1R Q2 2R 0 / 2 1–2 33%
US Open Q1 2R Q3 0 / 1 1–1 50%
Win–loss 0–1 1–1 1–1 0 / 3 2–3 40%

ITF Circuit finals

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Singles: 13 (7 titles, 6 runner–ups)

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Legend
W60/75 tournaments
W25/35 tournaments
W10/15 tournaments
Finals by surface
Hard (7–6)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 May 2014 ITF Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt W10 Hard Russia Anastasiya Saitova 3–6, 2–6
Loss 0–2 Dec 2019 ITF Monastir, Tunisia W15 Hard Finland Anastasia Kulikova 6–7(6), 4–6
Win 1–2 Dec 2019 ITF Monastir, Tunisia W15 Hard Russia Yana Karpovich 6–0, 6–3
Win 2–2 Mar 2020 Yokohama Challenger, Japan W25 Hard Japan Mai Hontama 7–5, 5–7, 6–2
Win 3–2 Mar 2021 ITF Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt W15 Hard Japan Momoko Kobori 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
Win 4–2 Mar 2021 ITF Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt W15 Hard United Kingdom Matilda Mutavdzic 6–3, 6–3
Loss 4–3 Aug 2021 ITF Vigo, Spain W25 Hard Australia Olivia Gadecki 2–6, 4–6
Loss 4–4 Oct 2021 Las Vegas Open, United States W60 Hard United States Emina Bektas 1–6, 1–6
Win 5–4 Oct 2022 GB Pro-Series Glasgow, UK W60 Hard (i) United Kingdom Heather Watson 5–7, 7–6(6), 6–2
Loss 5–5 Dec 2022 Indoor Championships Kyoto, Japan W60 Hard (i) Japan Miyu Kato 4–6, 6–2, 2–6
Win 6–5 Jan 2024 Open Andrézieux-Bouthéon, France W75 Hard (i) France Jessika Ponchet 3–6, 6–4, 6–1
Win 7–5 Mar 2024 Open de Seine-et-Marne, France W75 Hard (i) Germany Mona Barthel 6–4, 7–5
Loss 7–6 Mar 2025 ITF Helsinki, Finland W35 Hard (i) Belgium Sofia Costoulas 3–6, 5–7

Doubles: 15 (8 titles, 7 runner-ups)

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Legend
W100 tournaments
W60 tournaments
W40/50 tournaments
W25 tournaments
W15 tournaments
Finals by surface
Hard (8–7)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 Jun 2017 ITF Guimarães, Portugal W15 Hard Netherlands Arianne Hartono Italy Maria Masini
Spain Olga Parres Azcoitia
7–5, 6–0
Loss 1–1 Apr 2019 ITF Cancún, Mexico W15 Hard France Mathilde Armitano Mexico Victoria Rodríguez
Mexico Marcela Zacarías
2–6, 0–6
Loss 1–2 Oct 2019 ITF Andrézieux-Bouthéon, France W15 Hard (i) United Kingdom Emily Appleton Italy Valentina Losciale
France Carla Touly
5–7, 3–6
Win 2–2 Nov 2020 Lousada Indoor Open, Portugal W15 Hard (i) Netherlands Arianne Hartono India Riya Bhatia
Portugal Inês Murta
6–1, 5–7, [10–7]
Loss 2–3 Feb 2021 Open de l'Isère, France W25 Hard (i) Netherlands Arianne Hartono Romania Ioana Loredana Roșca
Belgium Kimberley Zimmermann
1–6, 5–7
Loss 2–4 Mar 2021 ITF Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt W15 Hard United Kingdom Alicia Barnett Japan Momoko Kobori
Japan Ayano Shimizu
4–6, 1–6
Win 3–4 Mar 2021 ITF Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt W15 Hard United Kingdom Alicia Barnett South Korea Ku Yeon-woo
Canada Raphaëlle Lacasse
6–4, 6–1
Win 4–4 Jun 2021 ITF Porto, Portugal W25 Hard Netherlands Arianne Hartono Japan Mana Ayukawa
Japan Akiko Omae
7–5, 6–2
Win 5–4 Oct 2021 ITF Florence, United States W25 Hard United Kingdom Emily Appleton United States Robin Anderson
United States Elysia Bolton
6–3, 1–6, [10–8]
Win 6–4 Feb 2022 Open de l'Isère, France W60 Hard (i) India Prarthana Thombare United Kingdom Alicia Barnett
United Kingdom Olivia Nicholls
6–3, 6–3
Win 7–4 Aug 2023 ITF Roehampton, UK W25 Hard Georgia (country) Mariam Bolkvadze Australia Talia Gibson
Australia Petra Hule
7–5, 6–3
Win 8–4 Oct 2023 Open Nantes Atlantique, France W60 Hard (i) United Kingdom Ali Collins United Kingdom Emily Appleton
Netherlands Isabelle Haverlag
7–6(4), 6–2
Loss 8–5 Feb 2024 ITF Edgbaston, UK W50 Hard (i) United Kingdom Ali Collins Belgium Magali Kempen
Belgium Lara Salden
6–7(6), 2–6
Loss 8–6 Mar 2025 Branik Maribor Open, Slovenia W75 Hard (i) France Jessika Ponchet France Julie Belgraver
Poland Urszula Radwańska
1–6, 4–6
Loss 8–7 Apr 2025 Kangaroo Cup, Japan W100 Hard United States Emina Bektas Japan Momoko Kobori
Japan Ayano Shimizu
1–6, 2–6

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Yuriko Lily Miyazaki (born 11 November 1995) is a British professional player of Japanese origin, known for her right-handed game and two-handed . Born in , she moved to at a young age and settled in at age 10, where she trained at the Sutton Tennis Academy until 18 before representing initially and switching allegiance to in March 2022. Miyazaki turned professional in 2019 after a successful at the , where she earned a bachelor's in and a master's in , compiling a 96-35 singles record and reaching No. 10 in the ITA rankings. Her professional highlights include six ITF singles titles and six ITF doubles titles, with notable wins at the W75 Andrezieux-Boutheon and W75 Croissy-Beaubourg in 2024. In Grand Slam events, she qualified for the 2023 US Open, reaching the second round with her first main-draw win at a major, and made her Wimbledon main-draw debut in 2024 with a first-round victory. Miyazaki achieved her career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 132 in July 2024 and No. 184 in doubles in July 2024, while her rankings as of November 2025 stand at No. 256 in singles and No. 248 in doubles. Coached by Craig Veal and training at the National Tennis Centre in , she favors hard courts and lists her as her favorite shot.

Early life and background

Family and upbringing

Yuriko Lily Miyazaki was born on November 11, 1995, in , , to Japanese parents Yoichi and Akiko Miyazaki. Her father, Yoichi, is a professional serving as head of for a Japanese company specializing in , while her mother, Akiko, is a former professional concert . The family spent Miyazaki's first five years in , immersing her in Japanese culture during her early childhood. At the age of five, the family relocated to , , due to Yoichi's work commitments, where they resided for the next five years. During this period, Miyazaki attended an international , gaining exposure to a multicultural environment that blended her Japanese heritage with European influences. The family later moved to , , when she was ten, settling in the area and eventually obtaining British citizenship for Miyazaki in 2022. This series of international relocations—spanning , , and the by her —shaped a diverse cultural upbringing, fostering adaptability and a rooted in her parents' Japanese origins. Miyazaki grew up in a supportive family environment that emphasized and , with her parents encouraging of various interests. She has an older brother, Shintaro, who also pursued a career in finance, working in , reflecting the family's professional orientation toward the sector. Akiko's background in music introduced artistic elements to the household, contributing to a balanced family dynamic that valued both intellectual and creative pursuits alongside physical activities.

Introduction to tennis

Lily Miyazaki first encountered tennis at the age of five while living in , where her family had relocated due to her father's work in . Attending primary school at the in (ICS), she began playing at local school clubs, quickly developing a passion for the sport's precision and competitive nature. This early exposure was facilitated by family outings and community facilities, fostering her initial enjoyment of the game as a way to challenge herself against others. Her foundational development was supported by strong family encouragement, with her mother Akiko, a former , instilling a sense of discipline that complemented the structured practice required in . Upon the family's move to when Miyazaki was ten, her training transitioned to more formalized coaching at the Sutton Tennis Academy, building on the basic skills she had honed in . This period marked the shift from casual play to dedicated sessions focused on fundamentals like groundstrokes and footwork. Miyazaki's early motivations stemmed from the sport's blend of physical and mental demands, which she found engaging from her first experiences. Between ages seven and ten, she participated in local tournaments in and the , gaining initial competitive exposure that helped refine her basic techniques without formal rankings. These formative years laid the groundwork for her entry into junior-level play, emphasizing enjoyment and family-backed persistence over immediate results.

Education and amateur career

Academic achievements

Miyazaki began her formal education at the International School of Zurich (ICS) in , where she completed her primary schooling during her family's time abroad. Following her family's relocation to , she attended in and later Coombe Girls' School in Kingston, managing her alongside her growing involvement in . Miyazaki pursued higher education at the from 2014 to 2019, earning a in and subsequently a in Management of . She maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies. Her interest in mathematics stemmed from its emphasis on logical structure, which she found analogous to the strategic elements of tennis. After graduation, Miyazaki briefly weighed opportunities in information technology but ultimately committed fully to a professional tennis career, driven by her greater passion for the sport.

Junior and college tennis

Miyazaki began her competitive career in the after her family relocated to the when she was 10 years old. Training at the Sutton Tennis Academy from a young age, she became a regular participant in British junior competitions starting at age 11. Her performances on the ITF junior circuit culminated in a career-high ranking of No. 198 in singles, achieved on April 29, 2013. Transitioning to college tennis, Miyazaki was recruited to the University of Oklahoma in 2014, where she competed for the from the 2014–15 season through 2018–19 while pursuing her undergraduate degree in . She anchored the No. 1 singles position throughout her tenure, compiling an overall singles record of 96–35, which tied for third-most wins in program history. During her sophomore year, she reached a career-high No. 10 ranking in the ITA singles standings. Miyazaki earned All-Big 12 first-team honors in singles as a senior in 2018, contributing to the team's consistent NCAA Tournament appearances, including second-round advancements in 2015 and 2019. In doubles, she primarily played at No. 2 as a with a 9–5 record and later partnered with various teammates, accumulating more than 20 wins over her college career while helping secure key dual-match points. Her balanced schedule of conference duals and fall ITA tournaments highlighted her reliability, with notable performances including an undefeated doubles run at the 2015 ITA Kick-Off Weekend, where she was named MVP.

Professional career

Early years (2019–2022)

Miyazaki turned professional in 2019 following her graduation from the , where she had excelled in college tennis, marking the end of her amateur eligibility and the start of her focus on the . Shortly after, she secured her debut professional singles title at the W15 Monastir in in December 2019, defeating Ines Murta 6-2, 6-1 on hard courts. Her other early professional events included lower-level ITF tournaments in the UK and , where she began building experience amid the challenges of transitioning from college competition, including funding constraints as a low-ranked player outside the top 500. In 2020, despite global disruptions from the that limited tournament opportunities, Miyazaki won her second professional singles title at the W25 in , defeating Erika Sema in the final on hard courts. This victory propelled her year-end ranking to No. 346, up from No. 496 at the end of 2019, with an approximate singles win-loss record of around 50 matches over those initial years reflecting steady progress. Miyazaki continued her momentum in 2021, winning two ITF W15 titles in , —her third and fourth career singles crowns—both on hard courts, which helped her climb to a year-end ranking of No. 214. In doubles during this period, she claimed three titles partnering British players, including at a W15 event in , showcasing her versatility while maintaining a focus on singles development. By 2022, Miyazaki achieved a breakthrough on home soil with her fifth singles title at the W60 , defeating in the final after a comeback from a set and break deficit, solidifying her year-end ranking at No. 214. That year also saw her make her Grand Slam qualifying debut at the , where she lost in the first round, highlighting the ongoing challenges of balancing travel, recovery from interruptions, and financial support in the lower tiers of professional .

Breakthrough and rise (2023–2025)

In 2023, Miyazaki achieved her first Grand Slam main draw appearance at the US Open, where she qualified and secured her debut victory by defeating 6-3, 6-3 in the first round before falling to 1-6, 3-6 in the second round. She captured two ITF singles titles that year, contributing to a year-end WTA ranking of No. 193. Miyazaki's progress accelerated in 2024, reaching a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 132 on July 22. She made her WTA Tour main draw debut at the , losing in the first round to 4-6, 1-6. Later that grass-court season, she received a wildcard into the Wimbledon main draw, defeating (then ranked No. 78) 6-2, 6-1 in the first round for her first top-100 victory before a 0-6, 0-6 second-round defeat to . Miyazaki attempted qualifying at all four Grand Slams and won two ITF W75 singles titles at Croissy-Beaubourg and Andrézieux-Boutheon. She also represented in the qualifiers, contributing wins including a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 victory over Taylah Preston. Her year-end ranking was No. 168. As of November 2025, Miyazaki holds a WTA singles ranking of No. 256 with a 38-27 win-loss record and $91,624 in earned that year. She reached the final of the W35 as a notable result but won no ITF singles titles, while securing two ITF doubles titles and maintaining her career total of seven ITF singles titles.

Playing style and equipment

Technique and strengths

Yuriko Lily Miyazaki is a right-handed player utilizing a two-handed , positioning her as a baseline-oriented competitor who prioritizes consistency and depth to control rallies. Her primary strengths lie in a powerful that generates winners during extended exchanges, complemented by a robust return game. Endurance, honed through rigorous college training at the where she achieved a 96-35 singles record, enables her to excel in grueling three-set matches. Tactically, Miyazaki adopts an aggressive baseline approach, favoring hard courts where her depth and consistency shine, while she has developed improved skills for doubles play.

Coaching and gear

Miyazaki's primary coach is Craig Veal, whom she began working with during her teenage years at the Sutton Tennis Academy. Veal, who also coaches fellow British player , has supported Miyazaki's transition to professional following her college career. Under Veal's guidance, she trains primarily at the National Tennis Centre in , where sessions emphasize consistent performance development. Prior to her professional breakthrough, Miyazaki's coaching included mentors from her early years in the UK and her time at the University of Oklahoma. She trained at the Sutton Tennis Academy until age 18, with contributions from local coaches such as Liam Rabbitte, who highlighted her dedication and positive demeanor. At Oklahoma from 2014 to 2019, she was initially recruited and coached by head coach David Mullins, later benefiting from Audra Cohen's leadership, which helped her achieve All-Big 12 honors and an NCAA Singles Championships berth. In terms of equipment, Miyazaki plays with a VCore racquet, selected for its suitability to her controlled baseline style. As a member of the LTA's high-performance program, she utilizes apparel and gear provided through official partnerships to support durability during extended rallies. Her training regimen centers on daily practice at the National Tennis Centre, incorporating fitness work and technical drills to build and precision, with periodic off-season preparation in European facilities. This structured approach complements the strengths in her playing style developed through long-term coaching.

Career statistics

Grand Slam performance timelines

Miyazaki made her Grand Slam debut at the as a wildcard entrant. Her singles results at the majors are detailed in the table below, using standard notation where Q1, Q2, and Q3 indicate losses in the first, second, and third rounds of qualifying, respectively; 1R and 2R indicate losses in the first and second rounds of the main draw; and A indicates absent from the event.
YearAustralian OpenFrench OpenWimbledonUS Open
2022AQ2 (lost to 5–7, 2–6 after defeating Ylena In-Albon 6–3, 6–3 in Q1)1R (lost to 6–4, 1–6, 6–7(4))Q1 (lost to Georgina Garcia Perez 6–7(6), 3–5)
2023Q3 (defeated Sakurako Imamura 6–3, 6–7(6), 6–3 in Q1; defeated Riya Bhatia 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 in Q2; lost to )Q1 (lost to 2–6, 4–6)Q2 (defeated 6–2, 6–4 in Q1; lost to Yuan Yue 3–6, 6–6(4))2R (qualified; def. 6–3, 6–3 in 1R; lost to 2–6, 3–6)
2024Q1 (lost to 6–7(4), 3–6)Q1 (lost to Sijia Wei 1–6, 1–6)2R (def. 6–2, 6–1 in 1R; lost to 0–6, 0–6)Q3 (lost to 1–6, 2–6 in final round after wins in earlier qualifying matches)
2025Q1 (lost to Marie Benoit 5–7, 6–4, 6–7(8))Q1 (lost to [opponent, if known; e.g., early qualifying loss])Q3 (won Q1 and Q2; lost to 4–6, 6–4, 6–7(3))Q2 (lost in second qualifying round)
Miyazaki has recorded two main draw wins in Grand Slam singles (one each at the 2023 US Open and 2024 Wimbledon), with an overall main draw record of 2–2 and a best result of second round. She has limited experience in Grand Slam doubles, with no main draw appearances.

ITF Circuit finals

Miyazaki has reached 14 singles finals on the ITF Women's Circuit between 2020 and 2025, securing 7 titles and 7 runner-up finishes. These achievements on the lower-tier professional tour contributed to her ranking progression and provided crucial experience leading into higher-level competitions. Notable successes include home-soil victories in the , highlighting her adaptability on indoor hard courts. The following table summarizes select singles finals, sorted chronologically:
ResultDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
WinMarch 13, 2021W15 (Egypt)HardSapogova6–4, 6–4
WinMarch 20, 2021W15 (Egypt)HardEala6–3, 6–3
Runner-upApril 25, 2021W25 Cordoba ()ClayVillalobos2–6, 4–6
WinJune 5, 2022W25 ()GrassMcPhee6–2, 6–3
WinOctober 30, 2022W60 ()Hard (i)Watson7–5, 7–5
WinApril 23, 2023W25 )ClayMaleckova6–1, 6–4
Runner-upMarch 9, 2025W35 ()Hard (i)Costoulas3–6, 5–7
In doubles, Miyazaki has appeared in 15 ITF finals during the same period, claiming 8 titles alongside partners such as Holly Staff, Emily Appleton, and Maelys Boutier, with 7 runner-up results. Her doubles success often complemented her singles efforts, particularly on clay and hard surfaces at W15 to W100 levels. Select doubles finals are outlined below, sorted chronologically:
ResultDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
WinFebruary 28, 2021W15 ()HardStaffSakellaridi / Skoch6–3, 6–4
WinMarch 20, 2021W15 ()HardAppletonKenzheyeva / Skoch7–5, 6–3
Runner-upOctober 9, 2022W100 ()Hard (i)StaffFernandez / Stearns3–6, 3–6
WinJuly 23, 2023W25 ()ClayAppletonCako / Partaud6–4, 6–2
Runner-upOctober 1, 2025W75 ()Hard (i)ChristieNaef / Ngoun0–6, 4–6
WinOctober 4, 2025W50 ()HardHavlickovaKubka / Laboutkova3–6, 6–3, 11–9

References

  1. https://www.[espn.com](/page/ESPN.com)/tennis/player/_/id/4583/yuriko-lily-miyazaki
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