Shuko Aoyama

Aoyama at the 2016 US Open
Country (sports)	Japan
Born	(1987-12-19) 19 December 1987 (age 36) Osaka, Japan
Height	1.54 m (5 ft 1⁄2 in)[1]
Plays	Right (two-handed both sides)
Prize money	US$2,453,721
Singles
Career record	230–199 (53.6%)
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 182 (9 February 2015)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	Q1 (2015)
French Open	Q1 (2015)
US Open	Q2 (2016)
Doubles
Career record	489–303 (61.7%)
Career titles	19
Highest ranking	No. 4 (28 February 2022)
Current ranking	No. 11 (15 January 2024)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	F (2023)
French Open	QF (2020)
Wimbledon	SF (2013, 2021)
US Open	3R (2017, 2021, 2022)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour Finals	SF (2021)
Olympic Games	1R (2021)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open	1R (2022)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	23–4 (85.2%)
Medal record Representing  Japan Women's tennis Asian Games 2014 Incheon Mixed doubles
Last updated on: 24 January 2024.

Shuko Aoyama (青山 修子, Aoyama Shūko, born December 19, 1987) is a Japanese professional tennis player who specializes in doubles.

Aoyama turned professional after graduating from Waseda University. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 182, on 9 February 2015, and a doubles ranking of world No. 4, on 28 February 2022. She plays predominantly in doubles and has won 19 titles on the WTA Tour,^[2] having had her most successful Grand Slam appearances at the 2023 Australian Open final and at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals at the 2013^[3] and 2021 tournaments. She has also won four singles and 30 doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.

Personal life and background

Aoyama started playing tennis at age 9. Her favorite surface is grass. She studied at Waseda University in Japan.^[4]

Professional career

2007–12: First steps, first WTA Tour title in doubles

Aoyama made her ITF Women's Circuit debut in the doubles event at Gifu in 2007. In March 2009, she won her first ITF title at the $10k Kōfu doubles event. In June 2010, she won her first singles ITF title at the $10k Tokyo event. In October 2010 at the Japan Women's Open, she made her debut at a WTA Tour main-draw event. She failed to qualify in singles and had more success in doubles, reaching her first WTA final. In late November 2010, she won the $75k Toyota doubles event. In June 2011, she made her WTA Tour singles debut at the Birmingham Classic as a qualifier. At the 2011 Wimbledon, she made her Grand Slam debut in doubles. At the 2012 Washington Open, she won her first WTA title in doubles. In September 2012 she won the $100k Ningbo Challenger. During the 2012 season, she also won two $50k events, the Lexington Challenger and the Bronx Open.

2013–16: More success in doubles, Wimbledon semifinalist

As time passed, Aoyama became mainly a doubles player, playing in doubles events preferentially to singles. She made a strong start into the 2013 season reaching the semifinal in the first week of January at the Shenzhen Open. Soon after, she won her first Grand Slam match at the Australian Open, but then lost in the second round playing with Irina Falconi. In March, she won the Malaysian Open with Chang Kai-chen. She also had a strong start into the grass-court season, reaching the semifinals at the Rosmalen Championships. She achieved more success at Wimbledon, when she and Chanelle Scheepers reached semifinals. This was her first significant Grand Slam result.^[5] In the semifinal match, they lost to Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai. In September, she won the Washington Open for the second year in a row. At the end of the year, she reached semifinals of the Korea Open and won the Toyota World Challenge.

During the next three seasons she did not have as good performances as in the 2013 season. In 2014, in singles, her only significant result came at the end of the year, when she reached the final of the Toyota World Challenge but lost to An-Sophie Mestach. In doubles, she won the Washington Open for the third year in a row, and later in October, she won the Japan Women's Open. During the year, she also had success on the ITF Women's Circuit. In May, she won the $50k Fukuoka International with Eri Hozumi, and later finished as runner-up at both the $50k Lexington Challenger and the $75k Toyota World Challenge. In the first week of the 2015 season, she reached the final at the Auckland Open with Renata Voráčová, they lost to Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. A month later, she reached the final of the Thailand Open with Tamarine Tanasugarn. She then did not have significant results until September, before she reached semifinals at the Korea Open, and later winning two $100k events, in Nanjing and Tokyo. During 2016, she won one WTA doubles title at the Japan Women's Open, and finished runner-up at the Nuremberg Cup, Washington Open and Jiangxi International Open. She also won three $50k events, in Quanzhou, Shenzhen and Wuhan.

2019–20: New partnership, French Open quarterfinalist

She reached the 2020 French Open quarterfinals, partnering compatriot Ena Shibahara.

2021: Miami Open & four more titles, Olympics & top 5 debut, WTA Finals semifinalist

She reached the 2021 WTA Finals semifinals, also partnering Ena Shibahara.

2022: World No. 4, Australian Open semifinal

Aoyama continued the partnership with Shibihara for the tournaments at the beginning of the year in Australia. At the Australian Open, they improved on their quarterfinal result the previous year by reaching the semifinal. Following this result, Aoyama reached her highest doubles ranking of world No. 4, on 28 February 2022.

For the three other majors during the year Aoyama partnered with Chan Hao-ching, reaching the quarterfinal stage at Wimbledon, and the third round at the US Open (losing to the eventual winners Krejčíková and Siniaková).

Her final competition was at the Billie Jean King Cup where Aoyama partnered with Shibahara once again. They won each of the six doubles matches they played.

2023: Australian Open finalist, 30th WTA final, Canadian champion, back to top 10

At the Australian Open, she reached the finals of a major for the fourth time in her career, again with Shibahara. The pair defeated second-seeded pair of Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in the semifinal to reach their first major final.^[6] However, they were defeated in straight sets by defending champions Krejčíková and Siniaková.^[7][8]

She won her 18th title at the Rosmalen Open^[9] and the WTA 1000 title at the 2023 National Bank Open in Canada partnering Shibahara.

The pair qualified for the 2023 WTA Finals for the second time. Aoyama returned to the top 10 on 23 October 2023.

Performance timelines

Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.

Doubles

Current through the 2023 Indian Wells Open.

Significant finals

Grand Slam tournaments

Women's doubles: 1 (runner-up)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	2023	Australian Open	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Barbora Krejčíková Kateřina Siniaková	4–6, 3–6

WTA Elite Trophy

Doubles: 1 (runner–up)

Result	Year	Location	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	2018	Zhuhai, China	Hard (i)	Lidziya Marozava	Lyudmyla Kichenok Nadiia Kichenok	4–6, 6–3, [7–10]

WTA 1000 tournaments

Doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

Result	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	2017	Wuhan Open	Hard	Yang Zhaoxuan	Chan Yung-jan Martina Hingis	6–7(5), 6–3, [4–10]
Win	2021	Miami Open	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Hayley Carter Luisa Stefani	6–2, 7–5
Win	2023	Canadian Open	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Desirae Krawczyk Demi Schuurs	6–4, 4–6, [13–11]

WTA Tour finals

Doubles: 32 (19 titles, 13 runner-ups)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	0–1	Oct 2010	Japan Women's Open, Japan	International[d]	Hard	Rika Fujiwara	Chang Kai-chen Lilia Osterloh	0–6, 3–6
Win	1–1	Aug 2012	Washington Open, United States	International	Hard	Chang Kai-chen	Irina Falconi Chanelle Scheepers	7–5, 6–2
Win	2–1	Mar 2013	Malaysian Open, Malaysia	International	Hard	Chang Kai-chen	Janette Husárová Zhang Shuai	6–7(4), 7–6(4), [14–12]
Win	3–1	Aug 2013	Washington Open, U.S. (2)	International	Hard	Vera Dushevina	Eugenie Bouchard Taylor Townsend	6–3, 6–3
Win	4–1	Aug 2014	Washington Open, U.S. (3)	International	Hard	Gabriela Dabrowski	Hiroko Kuwata Kurumi Nara	6–1, 6–2
Win	5–1	Oct 2014	Japan Women's Open	International	Hard	Renata Voráčová	Lara Arruabarrena Tatjana Maria	6–1, 6–2
Loss	5–2	Jan 2015	Auckland Classic, New Zealand	International	Hard	Renata Voráčová	Sara Errani Roberta Vinci	2–6, 1–6
Loss	5–3	Feb 2015	Pattaya Open, Thailand	International	Hard	Tamarine Tanasugarn	Chan Hao-ching Chan Yung-jan	6–2, 4–6, [3–10]
Loss	5–4	May 2016	Nuremberg Cup, Germany	International	Clay	Renata Voráčová	Kiki Bertens Johanna Larsson	3–6, 4–6
Loss	5–5	Jul 2016	Washington Open, U.S.	International	Hard	Risa Ozaki	Monica Niculescu Yanina Wickmayer	4–6, 3–6
Loss	5–6	Aug 2016	Jiangxi International, China	International	Hard	Makoto Ninomiya	Liang Chen Lu Jingjing	6–3, 6–7(2), [11–13]
Win	6–6	Sep 2016	Japan Women's Open (2)	International	Hard	Makoto Ninomiya	Jocelyn Rae Anna Smith	6–3, 6–3
Win	7–6	Aug 2017	Washington Open, U.S. (4)	International	Hard	Renata Voráčová	Eugenie Bouchard Sloane Stephens	6–3, 6–2
Win	8–6	Sep 2017	Japan Women's Open (3)	International	Hard	Yang Zhaoxuan	Monique Adamczak Storm Sanders	6–0, 2–6, [10–5]
Loss	8–7	Sep 2017	Wuhan Open, China	Premier 5[e]	Hard	Yang Zhaoxuan	Chan Yung-jan Martina Hingis	6–7(5), 6–3, [4–10]
Loss	8–8	Oct 2018	Hong Kong Open	International	Hard	Lidziya Marozava	Samantha Stosur Zhang Shuai	4–6, 4–6
Loss	8–9	Nov 2018	WTA Elite Trophy, China	Elite	Hard (i)	Lidziya Marozava	Lyudmyla Kichenok Nadiia Kichenok	4–6, 6–3, [7–10]
Win	9–9	Jun 2019	Rosmalen Open, Netherlands	International	Grass	Aleksandra Krunić	Lesley Kerkhove Bibiane Schoofs	7–5, 6–3
Loss	9–10	Aug 2019	Silicon Valley Classic, U.S.	Premier[f]	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Nicole Melichar Květa Peschke	4–6, 4–6
Win	10–10	Oct 2019	Tianjin Open, China	International	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Nao Hibino Miyu Kato	6–3, 7–5
Win	11–10	Oct 2019	Kremlin Cup, Russia	Premier	Hard (i)	Ena Shibahara	Kirsten Flipkens Bethanie Mattek-Sands	6–2, 6–1
Win	12–10	Feb 2020	St. Petersburg Trophy, Russia	Premier	Hard (i)	Ena Shibahara	Kaitlyn Christian Alexa Guarachi	4–6, 6–0, [10–3]
Win	13–10	Jan 2021	Abu Dhabi Open, UAE	WTA 500	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Hayley Carter Luisa Stefani	7–6(5), 6–4
Win	14–10	Feb 2021	Yarra Valley Classic, Australia	WTA 500	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Anna Kalinskaya Viktória Kužmová	6–3, 6–4
Win	15–10	Apr 2021	Miami Open, U.S.	WTA 1000	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Hayley Carter Luisa Stefani	6–2, 7–5
Win	16–10	Jun 2021	Eastbourne International, UK	WTA 500	Grass	Ena Shibahara	Nicole Melichar Demi Schuurs	6–1, 6–4
Win	17–10	Aug 2021	Tennis in Cleveland, U.S.	WTA 250	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Christina McHale Sania Mirza	7–5, 6–3
Loss	17–11	Aug 2022	Silicon Valley Classic, U.S.	WTA 500	Hard	Chan Hao-ching	Xu Yifan Yang Zhaoxuan	5–7, 0–6
Loss	17–12	Jan 2023	Australian Open, Australia	Grand Slam	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Barbora Krejčíková Kateřina Siniaková	4–6, 3–6
Loss	17–13	Feb 2023	Abu Dhabi Open, UAE	WTA 500	Hard	Chan Hao-ching	Luisa Stefani Zhang Shuai	6–3, 2–6, [8–10]
Win	18–13	Jun 2023	Rosmalen Open, Netherlands	WTA 250	Grass	Ena Shibahara	Viktória Hrunčáková Tereza Mihalíková	6–3, 6–3
Win	19–13	Aug 2023	Canadian Open, Canada	WTA 1000	Hard	Ena Shibahara	Desirae Krawczyk Demi Schuurs	6–4, 4–6, [13–11]

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 9 (4 titles, 5 runner–ups)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1–0	Jun 2010	ITF Tokyo, Japan	10,000	Hard	Erika Takao	7–6(3), 6–3
Loss	1–1	Apr 2012	ITF Bundaberg, Australia	25,000	Clay	Sandra Zaniewska	3–6, 2–6
Loss	1–2	Feb 2013	Launceston International, Australia	25,000	Hard	Storm Sanders	4–6, 4–6
Win	2–2	Oct 2013	ITF Hamamatsu, Japan	25,000	Grass	Eri Hozumi	7–6(7), 6–1
Loss	2–3	Feb 2014	Rancho Santa Fe Open, United States	25,000	Hard	Tamira Paszek	1–6, 1–6
Loss	2–4	Oct 2014	ITF Makinohara, Japan	25,000	Grass	Tatjana Maria	1–6, 2–6
Loss	2–5	Nov 2014	Toyota World Challenge, Japan	75,000[g]	Carpet (i)	An-Sophie Mestach	1–6, 1–6
Win	3–5	Oct 2015	ITF Hamamatsu, Japan	25,000	Grass	Miyu Kato	6–2, 6–1
Win	4–5	Oct 2016	ITF Hamamatsu, Japan	25,000	Carpet	Ksenia Lykina	6–4, 6–4

Doubles: 39 (30 titles, 9 runner-ups)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1–0	Mar 2009	Kōfu International Open, Japan	10,000	Hard	Akari Inoue	Maki Arai Miki Miyamura	7–5, 3–6, [10–8]
Win	2–0	Jun 2010	ITF Komoro, Japan	10,000	Clay	Maya Kato	Kim Kun-hee Yu Min-hwa	2–6, 6–2, 7–5
Win	3–0	Jun 2010	ITF Tokyo, Japan	10,000	Hard	Akari Inoue	Chang Kyung-mi Yoo Mi	7–6(3), 6–0
Loss	3–1	Sep 2010	ITF Noto, Japan	25,000	Carpet	Akari Inoue	Rika Fujiwara Tamarine Tanasugarn	3–6, 3–6
Win	4–1	Nov 2010	Toyota World Challenge, Japan	75,000	Carpet (i)	Rika Fujiwara	Irina-Camelia Begu Mădălina Gojnea	1–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win	5–1	Jan 2011	ITF Pingguo, China	25,000	Hard	Rika Fujiwara	Liu Wanting Sun Shengnan	6–4, 6–3
Loss	5–2	Feb 2011	Rancho Santa Fe Open, United States	25,000	Hard	Remi Tezuka	Julie Ditty Mervana Jugić-Salkić	0–6, 2–6
Win	6–2	Feb 2011	ITF Surprise, United States	25,000	Hard	Remi Tezuka	Mervana Jugić-Salkić Tetiana Luzhanska	6–3, 6–1
Win	7–2	Mar 2011	ITF Anning, China	25,000	Hard	Rika Fujiwara	Irina Buryachok Veronika Kapshay	6–3, 6–2
Win	8–2	Apr 2011	ITF Wenshan, China	50,000[h]	Hard (i)	Rika Fujiwara	Liang Chen Tian Ran	6–4, 6–0
Win	9–2	May 2011	Fukuoka International, Japan	50,000	Grass	Rika Fujiwara	Aiko Nakamura Junri Namigata	7–6(3), 6–0
Win	10–2	May 2011	ITF Karuizawa, Japan	25,000	Carpet	Rika Fujiwara	Natsumi Hamamura Ayumi Oka	6–4, 6–4
Win	11–2	Oct 2011	ITF Makinohara, Japan	25,000	Carpet	Kotomi Takahata	Junri Namigata Akiko Yonemura	6–2, 7–5
Win	12–2	Feb 2012	Launceston International, Australia	25,000	Hard	Kotomi Takahata	Hsieh Shu-ying Zheng Saisai	6–4, 6–4
Loss	12–3	Mar 2012	ITF Ipswich, Australia	25,000	Clay	Junri Namigata	Monique Adamczak Sandra Zaniewska	5–7, 4–6
Win	13–3	Mar 2012	ITF Bundaberg, Australia	25,000	Clay	Junri Namigata	Sacha Jones Sally Peers	6–1, 7–5
Loss	13–4	Jul 2012	ITF Waterloo, Canada	50,000	Clay	Gabriela Dabrowski	Sharon Fichman Marie-Ève Pelletier	2–6, 5–7
Loss	13–5	Jul 2012	Challenger de Granby, Canada	25,000	Hard	Miki Miyamura	Sharon Fichman Marie-Ève Pelletier	6–4, 5–7, [4–10]
Win	14–5	Jul 2012	Lexington Challenger, United States	50,000	Hard	Xu Yifan	Julia Glushko Olivia Rogowska	7–5, 6–7(7), [10–4]
Win	15–5	Aug 2012	Bronx Open, United States	50,000	Hard	Erika Sema	Eri Hozumi Miki Miyamura	6–4, 7–6(4)
Win	16–5	Sep 2012	Ningbo International, China	100,000	Hard	Chang Kai-chen	Tetiana Luzhanska Zheng Saisai	6–2, 7–5
Win	17–5	Oct 2012	ITF Hamamatsu, Japan	25,000	Grass	Miki Miyamura	Monique Adamczak Alexa Glatch	3–6, 6–4, [10–6]
Win	18–5	Feb 2013	Burnie International, Australia	25,000	Hard	Erika Sema	Bojana Bobusic Jessica Moore	w/o
Win	19–5	Oct 2013	ITF Hamamatsu, Japan	25,000	Grass	Junri Namigata	Belinda Bencic Sofia Shapatava	6–4, 6–3
Win	20–5	Nov 2013	Toyota World Challenge, Japan	75,000	Carpet (i)	Misaki Doi	Eri Hozumi Makoto Ninomiya	7–6(1), 2–6, [11–9]
Win	21–5	Feb 2014	ITF Surprise, United States	25,000	Hard	Eri Hozumi	Sanaz Marand Ashley Weinhold	6–3, 7–5
Win	22–5	May 2014	Fukuoka International, Japan	50,000	Grass	Eri Hozumi	Naomi Broady Eleni Daniilidou	6–3, 6–4
Loss	22–6	Jul 2014	Lexington Challenger, United States	50,000	Hard	Keri Wong	Jocelyn Rae Anna Smith	4–6, 4–6
Loss	22–7	Nov 2014	Toyota World Challenge, Japan	75,000	Carpet (i)	Junri Namigata	Eri Hozumi Makoto Ninomiya	3–6, 5–7
Win	23–7	Oct 2015	Nanjing Ladies Open, China	100,000	Hard	Eri Hozumi	Chan Chin-wei Zhang Kailin	7–5, 6–7(7), [10–7]
Win	24–7	Nov 2015	ITF Tokyo Open, Japan	100,000	Hard	Makoto Ninomiya	Eri Hozumi Kurumi Nara	3–6, 6–2, [10–7]
Win	25–7	Mar 2016	Blossom Cup, China	50,000	Hard	Makoto Ninomiya	Lu Jingjing Zhang Yuxuan	6–3, 6–0
Win	26–7	Apr 2016	Kōfu International Open, Japan	25,000	Hard	Erina Hayashi	Kanae Hisami Kotomi Takahata	7–5, 7–5
Win	27–7	Apr 2016	Pingshan Open, China	50,000	Hard	Makoto Ninomiya	Liang Chen Wang Yafan	7–6(5), 6–4
Win	28–7	Jul 2016	ITF Wuhan, China	50,000	Hard	Makoto Ninomiya	Chang Kai-chen Duan Yingying	6–4, 6–4
Loss	28–8	Oct 2016	Bendigo International, Australia	50,000	Hard	Risa Ozaki	Asia Muhammad Arina Rodionova	4–6, 3–6
Win	29–8	Jul 2017	Southsea Trophy, United Kingdom	100,000	Grass	Yang Zhaoxuan	Viktorija Golubic Lyudmyla Kichenok	6–7(7), 6–3, [10–8]
Loss	29–9	Nov 2017	Shenzhen Longhua Open, China	100,000	Hard	Yang Zhaoxuan	Jacqueline Cako Nina Stojanović	4–6, 2–6
Win	30–9	Nov 2018	Shenzhen Longhua Open, China	100,000	Hard	Yang Zhaoxuan	Choi Ji-hee Luksika Kumkhum	6–2, 6–3