Rocky Top Spotlight: Shunsuke Mitsui

When Shunsuke Mitsui signed his letter of intent in April, 2021, the Shizuoka, Japan, native became the first Japanese student-athlete to represent the Big Orange on the tennis court. In this manner, Mitsui was consistent with the general pattern of his career-- standing out from the rest.

Across his junior competitions, Mitsui had made a name for himself on an international scale. Mitsui appeared in all four junior Grand Slam tournaments, (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open) won nine doubles titles, five singles championships and claimed the Orange Bowl tournament title in 2019—foreshadowing his later successes in UT orange, when Mitsui would eventually decide to travel 6,826 miles from his home in Japan to continue his collegiate career at Tennessee.

Mitsui arrived on Rocky Top in the fall of 2021, ready to kick off the fall season. Keeping up with his momentum, Mitsui got off to a red-hot start representing the Big Orange and finished the 2021-22 season posting an impressive 10-1 record in-conference singles record. Along with a total record of 34-8 in singles competition, his 34 wins tied him with Byron Talbot (1985) at sixth place in the Tennessee record books for most singles victories by a Tennessee freshman. Additionally, his singles winning percentage of .810 places him at the fourth-best winning percentage by a freshman in Big Orange history. Still, Mitsui's freshman record-setting doesn't end there. With his 32 doubles wins, Mitsui cemented his name in the third spot for all-time freshman doubles wins in Tennessee history.

In 2022, Mitsui was recognized, three times, as SEC Freshman of the Week (2/2/22, 4/13/22, 4/18/22) and was ultimately named as a member of the All-SEC Second Team. Mitsui also gained Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) honors, being named ITA Rookie of the Year in 2022.

As the 2023 spring season unfolds, Mitsui continues to reach new heights. Making his first career appearance at No. 1 for the Volunteers in singles competition, Mitsui posted a season-opening, tone-setting 6-1 victory over Charlotte's Coy Simon (1/8/23).

His successes have extended to the doubles court too. Along with Emile Hudd, Mitsui has been on a tear in doubles competition, riding a four-match winning streak since the duo was paired together at the ITA National Indoor Championship in Chicago. The pair outscored opponents 18-8 in three Chicago matches. Mitsui and Hudd are currently ranked at No. 34 nationally.

The sophomore currently boasts a 2-1 career record against top-10 opponents in doubles competition, with a career overall doubles record of 46-18. His highest singles ranking came at No. 59 (11/16/22) with a career record of 50-18.

With SEC play beginning, Mitsui has built a solid foundation and impressive resume as conference play begins for the second-year Vol. During Tennessee's SEC opener against Auburn, Mitsui and Hudd mounted an exhilarating comeback win to clinch the Vols' 12th doubles point of the season. Mitsui took care of business in singles as well, winning in straight sets over Jan Galka, 6-4, 6-4.

Just halfway through his second dual season on Rocky Top, Mitsui's singles win Thursday marked his 50th career overall singles win and his 30th career dual singles win.

The Vols will continue conference play against the Vanderbilt Commodores for an in-state showdown Thursday, March 9 at home at the Barksdale Tennis Stadium.

The University of Tennessee campus has witnessed incredible athletic success throughout the years, with student-athletes walking the hallowed grounds while garnering titles like Olympian, National Champion or Player of the Year. An exclusive group etched their names within the history of their respective sport and went on to become hall of famers. Vols and Lady Vols through the ages consistently ascend to the pinnacle of competition, and the current student-athletes are no exception. Rocky Top Spotlight is an effort to shine a big orange light on the many elite competitors at Tennessee.

Previous Spotlights
Jordan Crooks (Men's Swimming)
Yaseen Abdalla (Men's Track & Field/XC)
Charisma Taylor (Women's Track & Field/XC)
Manassanan Chotikabhukkana (Women's Golf)

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Emile Hudd

Shunsuke Mitsui

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