Rika Fujiwara, a former elite tennis player, has signed a professional contract with the PPA TOUR. Despite starting pickleball in 2024, she has remarkably climbed to World No. 18 and Asia No. 1 in just two years.
Ambiente LLC (located in Yokohama, Kanagawa), which manages pickleball player Rika Fujiwara, has announced that Fujiwara has signed a player contract with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), the operator of the world's most prestigious professional pickleball tour.
World No. 18, Asia No. 1. A 44-year-old active athlete showing "Remarkable Evolution"
Rika Fujiwara spent 20 years competing globally as a professional tennis player. Her career highlights include reaching the semi-finals in doubles at the French Open, the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, and the semi-finals at the WTA Tour Finals. In singles, she competed in the main draw of all four Grand Slams and represented Japan in international competitions (now BJK Cup) for 11 years, leading the Japanese tennis world for many years before retiring in 2020. After retiring, she discovered pickleball and began competing in 2024. In just two years, she reached World No. 18 and Asia No. 1 in the women's singles ranking (as of March 18, 2026) under the latest rating system (DUPR). Among the top 50 in the world rankings, who are mostly in their 20s and 30s, the 44-year-old Fujiwara is the oldest ranked player and aims to climb even higher. In the 2025 season, she won a bronze medal in women's singles at the PPA Tour Asia Vietnam Open and reached the round of 16 in women's singles at the "PPA Tour Pickleball World Championships" held in Dallas, Texas, in November. She has already proven her world-class caliber.
About PPA TOUR
PPA TOUR is the world's leading professional pickleball tour based in the United States. It is currently gaining enthusiastic support as the "fastest-growing sport" in the U.S. and has evolved into a massive professional sports platform. Only a handful of elite athletes worldwide can sign a contract with the PPA. Top athletes from other sports, such as former men's tennis world No. 8 Jack Sock, are increasingly participating, and the level of competition is intensifying every year.
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Partnership
- Organizations: Professional Pickleball Association (PPA)
FAQ
What professional tennis accomplishments did Rika Fujiwara achieve before her 2020 retirement, including Grand Slam performances and national team representation?
Rika Fujiwara reached the doubles semi‑finals at the French Open, the quarter‑finals at the Australian Open, the semi‑finals at the WTA Tour Finals, competed in the main draw of all four Grand Slams in singles, and represented Japan in international competition now called the BJK Cup for eleven years before retiring in 2020.
When did Rika Fujiwara begin competing in pickleball, and what world and Asian rankings did she hold as of March 18, 2026 under the DUPR rating system?
She started playing competitive pickleball in 2024 and, as of March 18, 2026, she was ranked World No. 18 and Asia No. 1 in the women’s singles DUPR rankings.
Which company located in Yokohama, Kanagawa announced Rika Fujiwara’s player contract with the Professional Pickleball Association, and where is the PPA Tour headquartered?
Ambiente LLC, based in Yokohama, Kanagawa, announced Fujiwara’s contract with the Professional Pickleball Association, while the PPA Tour itself is headquartered in the United States.
What medal did Rika Fujiwara earn at the 2025 PPA Tour Asia Vietnam Open, and how far did she advance in the women’s singles at the 2025 PPA Tour Pickleball World Championships held in Dallas, Texas?
At the 2025 PPA Tour Asia Vietnam Open she won a bronze medal in women’s singles, and later that year she reached the round of 16 in women’s singles at the PPA Tour Pickleball World Championships in Dallas, Texas.
How does Rika Fujiwara’s age compare to other top‑50 women’s singles pickleball players, and what ambition does she express regarding her future ranking?
At 44 years old, Fujiwara is the oldest player among the top‑50 women’s singles pickleball rankings, and she publicly aims to climb even higher in the world rankings.