When Hsieh Su-wei, tennis’ queen of unconventional artistry, bowed out of singles in early 2024, it felt like the curtain closing on a rare, whimsical chapter of the sport. Yet in October, a fresh note played, a 21-year-old from Japan’s Aichi prefecture, Aoi Ito , burst through qualifying to claim her first WTA main draw. Now riding a career-high live ranking of No. 81 after a fearless second-round win in Cincinnati, she’s primed to be a dangerous floater at the US Open. And behind her rise? The singular vision of her father-coach, whose unique guidance shapes every stroke, turned her journey into tennis’ newest, most captivating melody.

Who is Aoi Ito’s coach?

Aoi Ito’s rise on the tennis stage is choreographed by a rare family duet. At its heart is her father, a former prosecutor tur

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