Japanese Tennis Coach Singapore — Authentic Japanese Coaching Since 2004
If you are searching for a Japanese tennis coach in Singapore, Sanwa X Tennis Academy is the island’s original Japanese-founded tennis academy. Established in 2004 by Head Coach Wataru Ochi (越智亘), Sanwa X has spent more than two decades bringing authentic Japanese coaching methodology — precision, discipline, and fundamentals-first development — to players in Singapore.
Today the academy is led by Coach Ochi alongside Director of Tennis Kento Takeuchi (竹内研人), a former ATP Tour professional. Both coaches are Japanese nationals who competed and coached at the highest levels of the Japanese and international game before basing themselves in Singapore. Lessons are delivered in both Japanese and English, at our rooftop courts at NTU@one-north, Buona Vista.
シンガポールで日本人テニスコーチをお探しですか。サンワXテニスアカデミーは2004年に越智亘ヘッドコーチが設立した、シンガポール初の日本人テニスアカデミーです。日本語・英語の両方でレッスンを行っております。詳しくはコーチ紹介ページおよびクラスページをご覧ください。
Why Choose a Japanese Tennis Coach in Singapore?
Japanese tennis coaching has a distinct character. It is built on kihon — fundamentals — and on the belief that lasting improvement comes from patient, correct repetition rather than shortcuts. In practice, this means our coaches will spend real time on your grip, your contact point, and your footwork before layering on power or tactics.
- Fundamentals first. Technique is built correctly from the ground up, so it holds under match pressure rather than breaking down.
- Structured progression. A clear pathway from Starter through to Tournament level, with defined competencies at each stage.
- Discipline and respect. Our junior programme teaches courtesy, discipline and effort alongside strokes — values that carry well beyond the court.
- Bilingual delivery. Coaching in Japanese or English, which matters for Japanese families settling into Singapore and for children schooling here.
- Japanese equipment heritage. Sanwa X is an official Yonex-affiliated academy, using the Japanese manufacturer’s racquets and gear across our programmes.
Meet Our Japanese Tennis Coaches
Head Coach Wataru Ochi (越智亘) — Founder, Sanwa X Tennis Academy
Coach Ochi is one of Singapore’s most experienced Japanese tennis coaches, with 25+ years of elite-level coaching. As a player he reached the quarterfinals of the All Japan Championships. As a coach, he guided Ai Sugiyama — WTA doubles World No. 1 and singles World No. 8 — to the 2007 French Open doubles final; worked with Go Soeda through his rise to a career-high ATP World No. 47; and toured with former WTA World No. 4 Kimiko Date. He also supported Japan’s players at the 2012 London Olympics. He founded Sanwa X in Singapore in 2004 and still sets the academy’s coaching philosophy today.
Read his full playing and coaching record at his official coach profile.
Coach Kento Takeuchi (竹内研人) — Director of Tennis, Former ATP Tour Professional
Coach Kento is a former ATP Tour professional with a publicly documented record. He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 378 and a Japan national ranking of No. 7, was the All Japan U-18 Champion, placed 4th in singles and 2nd in doubles at the All Japan Championships, and won 2 ITF singles titles and 4 ITF doubles titles. He retired from the professional tour in 2022 and moved to Singapore to coach. His record is verifiable on the ATP Tour website and Wikipedia.
Explore his coaching philosophy at his official coach profile.
You can see the full coaching team, with credentials and verification sources, on our tennis coaches in Singapore page.
Tennis Lessons for the Japanese Community in Singapore
Singapore is home to a large and long-established Japanese community, and many of our students and families are part of it. Whether you have just relocated, are here on a multi-year posting, or your children attend the Japanese School, Sanwa X offers a familiar coaching culture in an unfamiliar city — and a ready-made tennis community to join.
- Kids tennis lessons from age 4, with age-appropriate equipment and coaching
- Junior development through to competitive national and international level
- Adult group lessons across five levels, from Starter to Tournament
- Ladies’ tennis lessons and social groups
- Private one-on-one coaching with Coach Ochi or Coach Takeuchi
- Tennis for expats — an international, welcoming academy community
For the full programme range, see our tennis lessons in Singapore overview, or download the current group lesson schedule.
Where We Coach
All lessons are held on the rooftop courts at NTU@one-north, 11 Slim Barracks Rise, Singapore 138664 — a 7-minute walk from Buona Vista MRT (East-West and Circle Lines), with parking on site. The venue sits in central-west Singapore and is convenient from Holland Village, Bukit Timah, Clementi, Queenstown and the wider one-north district. Full directions are on our location page.
Part of a Wider Singapore Coaching Network
Sanwa X operates within the TAG International Tennis Academy group, which manages premium tennis facilities in Singapore including TAG@One North and Winchester Tennis Arena, Singapore’s first indoor tennis facility. You can explore the group’s full junior and academy pathways at TAG International Tennis Academy.
For players seeking high-performance development beyond the academy pathway, our coaches work in close partnership with Coach XT, a leading tennis coach in Singapore. And many of our adult students now cross-train on the pickleball court — PickleChoo runs Singapore’s premier public pickleball venues and coaching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do your coaches teach in Japanese?
Yes. Head Coach Wataru Ochi (越智亘) and Director of Tennis Kento Takeuchi (竹内研人) are both Japanese nationals and coach in Japanese or English, depending on what the student prefers. Japanese-language pages for our coaches, classes and private lessons are available on this site.
Do I need to speak Japanese to train at Sanwa X?
Not at all. Sanwa X is a genuinely international academy with students from Europe, the Americas, Japan, Australia and across Southeast Asia. All coaches teach fluently in English. The Japanese heritage shapes our method, not who is welcome.
Can I book a private lesson directly with a Japanese coach?
Yes. Both Coach Ochi and Coach Takeuchi teach private lessons at NTU@one-north, subject to availability. Private lessons start from $150 per hour, with package rates of $140/hr (10 hours), $135/hr (20 hours) and $130/hr (30 hours). Contact us to check current slots.
What age can my child start?
Children can begin in our Kids (KD) class from age 4, using red balls and adapted equipment. From there, the junior pathway runs through Junior Flower, Junior Advanced, Pre-Players and Players classes, up to competitive tournament level.
How is Japanese tennis coaching different from other methods?
The clearest difference is patience with fundamentals. Rather than rushing a student toward match play, Japanese coaching invests heavily in correct technique, footwork and repetition first — so that the game that emerges is durable under pressure. Our coaches explain the approach in detail in Japanese Tennis Coaching in Singapore: The Sanwa X Method.
Book a Trial Lesson — 体験レッスンのお申し込み
New students are welcome to try a trial tennis lesson in either a group or private format before committing. Email hello@sanwatennis.com, call +65 8962 8400, or use our contact page — a coach will assess your level and recommend the right class.
Coaching credentials on this page are publicly verifiable. Kento Takeuchi’s ATP record is listed on the ATP Tour website; Go Soeda’s career-high ATP World No. 47 and Ai Sugiyama’s WTA record are listed on the ATP and WTA Tour websites. Last reviewed: July 2026.