Nearly seven decades after tennis first entered the Asian Games in Tokyo, the sport is returning to Japan for another important chapter.
The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi–Nagoya from 19 September to 4 October 2026, bringing together athletes from across the continent for one of the biggest sporting celebrations in the world.
For Asian tennis, the return to Japan carries a special meaning. Tennis made its Asian Games debut in Tokyo in 1958. Apart from the 1970 edition, it has remained part of the programme ever since, producing champions from different generations and giving players the rare opportunity to compete not only for themselves, but also for their countries.
Unlike the week-to-week tour where players chase individual points and prize money, the Asian Games shifts the focus entirely to national pride and team medals. A player may spend most of the season travelling alone, but at the Games every victory becomes part of a country’s wider sporting journey.
Over the years, the Asian Games has produced several memorable moments in tennis. Some of the continent’s finest players have won medals at the event, including Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, who have played an important part in India’s success. Li Na also represented China at the Games before becoming a Grand Slam champion. Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei have also enjoyed notable performances and contributed to the tournament’s long history.
The most recent edition in Hangzhou provided another reminder of the quality and depth of Asian tennis. China completed a sweep of the singles titles on home soil. Zhang Zhizhen defeated Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki to win the men’s singles gold, becoming China’s first champion in the event since 1994.
In the women’s competition, a 20-year-old Qinwen Zheng defeated compatriot Zhu Lin to claim the gold medal. At the time, Zheng was already one of Asia’s leading young players. What followed made that victory even more significant. She went on to reach a Grand Slam final in the Australian Open 2026, and later became the Olympic singles champion in Paris.
Chinese Taipei enjoyed an equally memorable tournament by winning both doubles titles. Hsu Yu-hsiou and Jason Jung took the men’s doubles gold, while sisters Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung jan won the women’s crown.
India added another golden moment through Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale, who fought back to win the mixed doubles title. The Philippines also celebrated two bronze medals through Alexandra Eala, in women’s singles and mixed doubles.
Three years later, the tournament resets under very different circumstances, setting up an unpredictable fight for the medals Neither of the defending singles champions is expected to return. Zheng and Zhang are among several leading Chinese players who have not been selected for Aichi–Nagoya, opening the door for a new men’s champion and a new women’s champion.
One of the strongest confirmed names in the women’s field is Eala. She arrived in Hangzhou as a promising teenager and left with two bronze medals. She now comes to Japan as an established player on the professional Tour, a WTA champion and the highest-ranked Filipino and Southeast Asian woman in tennis history.
Eala has chosen to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games despite her busy tour schedule. Unlike in Hangzhou, she will arrive this time as one of the leading contenders for the women’s singles title and a player many will be watching closely.
Host nation Japan will also be hoping for a successful tournament. Hangzhou men’s singles silver medalist Yosuke Watanuki will return and aim for gold on home soil. Moyuka Uchijima and Himeno Sakatsume will compete in the women’s singles, while experienced players Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara will strengthen Japan’s chances in the doubles events.
India will begin another Asian Games campaign with a proud tennis history behind it. The country has traditionally performed strongly in doubles and mixed doubles, and the gold won by Bopanna and Bhosale in Hangzhou added to that legacy. The names may change, but the expectation of competing for medals remains.
Chinese Taipei will again be a major force in doubles, while Korea, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Indonesia and China all have the depth to challenge across the five events.
There is also considerable interest around Kazakhstan. Few Asian nations can currently match the global presence of Kazakh tennis. Elena Rybakina is one of the leading women’s players in the world, while Alexander Bublik has established himself among the top names in the men’s game. Anna Danilina also remains one of Asia’s leading doubles players.
The participation of Rybakina and Bublik is yet to be officially confirmed. If they compete, both will be among the leading medal contenders and the biggest names at the Games. Their presence would also show how far Kazakhstan has progressed in tennis.
The final player list is still to be confirmed, but the tennis competition in Aichi–Nagoya is expected to be highly competitive. Five titles will be decided at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center – men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. The field will include experienced international players as well as others taking part in the biggest tournament of their careers.
This is what makes the Asian Games special. Established players compete alongside young talents who are ready to make their mark. The tournament also brings back old rivalries, creates new partnerships and can become an important turning point in a player’s career.
Hangzhou belonged to Zheng, Zhang, Chinese Taipei’s doubles teams and India’s mixed doubles pair. Japan will now welcome a new group of players looking to write their own stories.
From Tokyo in 1958 to Aichi–Nagoya in 2026, the surroundings have changed and Asian tennis has grown beyond recognition. The continent now has Grand Slam champions, Olympic medallists, Top 10 players and emerging stars capable of competing with the world’s best.
But the meaning of the Asian Games remains unchanged. For one week, players will compete not only for themselves, but also for their countries. Past champions will be remembered, new champions will be crowned, and another chapter in Asian tennis will begin in the country where tennis made its Asian Games debut.
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