ITF

SCRUTINISE THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND IT WOULD TAKE A VERY BRAVE OBSERVER NOT TO INCLUDE JAPAN'S SHINTARO MOCHIZUKI on a list of players to keep close tabs on during the coming years. After all, 2019 proved something of a breakthrough period for the teenager, who became the first Japanese boy to contest a Junior Grand Slam final when he reached the business end of the Junior Championships at Wimbledon in July. He took that accolade a step further by defeating Spain's Carlos Gimeno Valero and lifting silverware, while he spearheaded Japan's victory march at September's Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Finals in Orlando. Such progress, which also included a semi-final appearance at the Roland Garros Junior Championships, is likely to see Mochizuki feature increasingly within the game's professional ranks during 2020. Given the significant achievements already accomplished by the 16-year-old, it would be a fair assumption that his career path has been set in stone for some time. Such a hunch, however, would be misguided. Not so long ago, Mochizuki, who is a New York Yankees fan given the presence of Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka on their roster, faced a potentially career-defining decision over whether to pursue tennis as his primary sport. "I was going to quit tennis when I was nine or 10 years old and change to baseball," Mochizuki told ITFWorld. "My parents didn't push me to play tennis but I played a lot with them and my coaches so, in the end, I couldn't quit. I NEARLY QUIT TENNIS TO BECOME A BASEBALL PLAYER Mochizuki, right, helped Japan to Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas glory in September 32 ITFWorld // WINTER 2019/20 J U N I O R S Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki talks to ITFWorld about his tennis odyssey as he bids to build on a hugely successful 2019 during the coming season I NEARLY QUIT TENNIS TO BECOME A BASEBALL PLAYER

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