Makoto Ninomiya Bio
Makoto Ninomiya (二宮 真琴, Ninomiya Makoto; born 28 May 1994) is a Japanese professional tennis player who has built her career primarily in doubles competition. Standing 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) tall and playing right-handed with a two-handed backhand, she has represented Japan across the ITF Circuit, the WTA Tour, and the Fed Cup. She achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 20 on 22 October 2018, the same year she reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open.
Over more than fifteen years on the professional tour, Ninomiya has become a respected figure in women’s doubles, collecting WTA titles and contributing consistently to Japan’s national team. She also peaked at No. 280 in singles on 22 February 2016, showing her versatility across both formats of the game.
Early Life and Background
Makoto Ninomiya was born on 28 May 1994 in Hiroshima, Japan. Growing up in Hiroshima, she was introduced to tennis at a young age in a country with a deep tennis culture and a strong tradition of producing competitive doubles players. Her early environment in Japan helped shape the disciplined work ethic that has carried through her professional career.
She comes from Hiroshima, a city known for its resilience and its strong youth sports programs. While details about her family and formal education are not publicly documented, her hometown has produced several notable Japanese athletes, and Ninomiya emerged from that competitive sporting community.
Path to Professional Tennis
Ninomiya began playing tennis on ITF events in 2009 at the age of fifteen, marking the start of her professional career. Competing on the ITF Circuit gave her the foundation to develop her doubles game against a wide range of opponents and on various playing surfaces.
Her early progress on the ITF Circuit led to greater opportunities, including appearances on the WTA Tour and invitations to higher-profile events. By her late teens, she had begun to partner with several established Japanese players, including Eri Hozumi and Nao Hibino, relationships that would later help her reach the upper levels of the doubles rankings.
Makoto Ninomiya Career
Early Career (2009–2016)
During her first years on tour, Ninomiya focused on the ITF Circuit, where she honed her skills and built her ranking. She reached her career-high singles ranking of No. 280 on 22 February 2016, a milestone that reflected her steady development as an all-around player. Even as a singles competitor, however, doubles quickly emerged as her stronger discipline.
She collected multiple ITF doubles titles during this developmental phase and gradually transitioned to the WTA Tour. Her growing consistency in doubles laid the groundwork for bigger opportunities at major tournaments in the years that followed.
WTA Tour Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Ninomiya’s breakthrough on the WTA Tour came in 2017 when she reached the doubles semifinals at Wimbledon, one of the four Grand Slam events. That same year, she continued climbing the doubles rankings and established herself as a reliable partner on the tour.
Her biggest breakthrough arrived in 2018. Partnering with Eri Hozumi, she reached the final of the French Open doubles draw, facing sixth-seeded Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková. Although the pair finished as runners-up, the result pushed Ninomiya to a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 20 on 22 October 2018. The French Open final remains the most prestigious result of her career.
Continued Success on Tour (2020–2024)
Across 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, Ninomiya reached the second round of the Australian Open doubles, demonstrating her sustained presence in Grand Slam main draws. In 2022, she also reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open mixed doubles, further showcasing her versatility in the format.
She reached the final of the 2023 Jiangxi Open with Eri Hozumi, losing to second seeds Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva. In 2024, she partnered with Nao Hibino to reach the final of the Hong Kong 125 Open, and later that year won the Hong Kong Open doubles title with Ulrikke Eikeri, defeating Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi in a deciding champions tiebreak.
Recent Form (2025)
In 2025, Ninomiya won the doubles title at the WTA 125 Saint-Malo Open alongside Maia Lumsden, defeating Oksana Kalashnikova and Angelica Moratelli in the final. She also reached the second round of the Australian Open doubles that year, continuing her consistent Grand Slam appearances.
Playing Style and Strengths
Ninomiya plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand and is best suited to doubles competition, where her reflexes, court coverage, and net play shine. Her compact 1.57 m frame gives her a low center of gravity that helps her generate sharp angles and quick reactions at the net, key strengths in modern doubles tennis.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her signature event remains the 2018 French Open doubles final with Eri Hozumi, the only Grand Slam doubles final of her career. She has also reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2017 and the Australian Open mixed doubles quarterfinals in 2022, milestones that highlight her consistency at the sport’s biggest stages.
Makoto Ninomiya Career Wins
Makoto Ninomiya has built a strong résumé in doubles, with nine WTA Tour doubles titles, two WTA 125 doubles titles, and 21 ITF doubles titles. In singles, she has captured one ITF Circuit title. Across her career, she has earned US$1,410,260 in prize money on the professional tour.
WTA Tour Highlights
Ninomiya’s most recent WTA title came at the 2024 Hong Kong Open, where she partnered with Ulrikke Eikeri to defeat Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi in the final. Her biggest Grand Slam result remains the 2018 French Open doubles final with Eri Hozumi, while her best Wimbledon run was a semifinal appearance in 2017. She has reached 19 WTA Tour doubles finals in total, winning nine of them.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her WTA results, Ninomiya has been a steady performer on the ITF Circuit, where she has won 21 doubles titles and one singles title. She has also represented Japan in Fed Cup competition, posting a 5–1 win-loss record as of June 2024, and she captured the WTA 125 Saint-Malo Open doubles title in 2025 alongside Maia Lumsden.
Makoto Ninomiya Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Details about Makoto Ninomiya’s family, parents, and personal relationships are not publicly documented. She was born and raised in Hiroshima, Japan, and represents her home country on the international tennis circuit.
Personal Life
Ninomiya maintains a private personal life, with no publicly available information about a spouse, partner, or children. Her public profile centers on her professional tennis career and her contributions to Japanese tennis.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has continued Ninomiya’s run of consistent doubles results. She started the year by reaching the second round of the Australian Open doubles, marking another Grand Slam main-draw appearance. Her current WTA doubles ranking sits at No. 58 as of 5 May 2025, reflecting her steady presence on tour.
A highlight of her 2025 campaign came at the WTA 125 Saint-Malo Open, where she teamed with Maia Lumsden to win the doubles title, defeating Oksana Kalashnikova and Angelica Moratelli in the final. The victory added another trophy to her collection and underlined her continued ability to perform in finals.
Looking ahead, Ninomiya remains a reliable doubles partner and a valuable member of Japan’s Billie Jean King Cup team. With her experience and ranking, she is positioned to remain competitive on the WTA Tour and at Grand Slam events for the foreseeable future.