THE PRINCE OF TENNIS NEWS

Now Online: Prince of Tennis Episodes 13-14

This week it's all about doubles and triples as we debut The Prince of Tennis episodes 13 and 14. Will the ever-independent Ryoma and Momo figure out how to work as a team and win their match? And will Shusuke's near-supernatural Triple counter shot be enough to defeat an upstart doubles team? Watch all the latest episodes in the Prince of Tennis section!

Episode 13: Real Men Play Doubles
In the midst of their uncoordinated game with Fukawa and Izumi, Ryoma and Momo bring their game back with an interesting yet unorthodox way to synchronize their attack.


Episode 14: The Triple Counter
The mysterious team from Fudomine Junior High comes out of nowhere to defeat a seeded school. Shusuke Fuji and Taka Kawamura are up to play them in doubles. Everybody is amazed at Shusuke’s Triple counter shot, but Mr. Inoue doubts it’ll be a win for Seigaku!
 
Now Online: Prince of Tennis Episodes 11-12

Ryoma may be an ace tennis player, but is there a nice guy behind his icy, competitive demeanor? This week's new Prince of Tennis episodes give us a glimpse behind the game face -- check them out at the Prince of Tennis series page!

Episode 11: Ryoma vs. Momoshiro
Ryoma and Momo are developing a competitive friendship. They both have their eyes on the #3 doubles spot so they decide to play each other for it. At the outdoor tennis courts they come upon a round-robin doubles game. Up for the challenge, they team up, though Ryoma’s never played doubles in his life!

Episode 12: The Perfect Match
Although they lost to Fukawa and Izumi, Ryoma and Momo decide to challenge themselves and play doubles at the district matches. Coincidentally, their opponents there are Gyokurin’s Fukawa and Izumi, again.

Merry Christmas! New Prince of Tennis Episodes

Here's a nice little Christmas present to wake up to -- today we're releasing two new episodes of our new action-packed series The Prince of Tennis. Ryoma's tennis skills are earning some serious attention, but will they be enough to earn him a place on the school team? Go to the Prince of Tennis series page to check out all the episodes!

Episode 9: The Hard Day
Ryoma defeats Sadaharu and wins a spot on the regular team. Sadaharu isn’t out of the picture though—he stays on to help train the regulars and introduce them to his special concoction: a vegetable drink guaranteed to make them stronger.

Episode 10: Counterattack! Sasabe Again?
Sasabe has returned! Only this time it’s his father who’s the troublemaker, making a fun day at Kachiro’s father’s tennis club a nightmare. Ryoma tries to diffuse the situation slyly by asking Mr. Sasabe to teach him tennis.
A very merry Christmas to all our viewers -- have a great day and enjoy the presents!

A Princess of Tennis Welcomes The Prince of Tennis
I was a little kid when I first held a tennis racket. My Uncle Fred played and my first exposure to the sport was picking up balls while he practiced. When he immigrated to the United States, he left his huge—and heavy—wooden tennis racket to me. I was seven years old.
 
We lived across a park in the community I grew up in back in Manila. Near our house was a shell tennis court and clubhouse. I spent my early years waking up to the distinct sound of a racket hitting a tennis ball. It was a sound that got me out of bed faster than any alarm clock ever could, and it was all out of sheer excitement to look out of a window to see who was playing tennis across the street.
 
I spent many Saturday mornings hitting balls against the wall behind the tennis court clubhouse because none of the players had the time—or inclination—to teach me the basics. And it was on one of those mornings that fate lent a hand in fulfilling my destiny. 

I was hitting balls against the wall, as usual, when I did something I’d never done before: I tossed the ball up in the air and hit it in a downward motion. It was my best imitation of a serve. After doing it a few times I heard a man say, “Who taught you how to do that?” I was startled to learn that this grandfatherly gentleman had been watching me the entire time. “I saw it on TV,” I replied. He then said, “I’ll tell you what. You show up here at 7 a.m. every Saturday, and I’ll teach you how to play for free.” I had no idea that it was Mr. Villanueva, the resident trainer and former Class A category champion of the tennis club.

After Mr. Villanueva convinced my parents that he saw great potential in me—and that he would truly teach me for free—my parents allowed me to take tennis lessons regularly on the sole condition that I don’t let my grades slip. And on that we struck a firm deal.  

I was nine when I joined my very first national age-group tournament. It was the 10-years-and-under unisex category. I beat a boy in the first round, but a female player—the eventual champion—creamed me in the second round. It was back to the drawing board after that. I didn’t join another national tournament until years later. 

I won my very first title immediately following a three-day group tennis clinic led by Japanese coaches when I was 13, and that’s when things really took off. I eventually became the top-seeded player in the girls’ 14’s, 16’s and 18’s national age group categories. I went on to represent the Philippines in tournaments all over Asia and defended my titles on local soil. As part of the Philippine junior national team, I received a monthly stipend from the government, which I used to buy gifts for my parents and younger brother during my trips abroad.

On my last year on the Asian junior tour, I had the privilege of meeting and spending time with top female Japanese player Ai Sugiyama, who later enjoyed a long and prolific career as a pro before retiring this year. As for me, I retired after the juniors and chose to simply be a regular college student, though I still served as team captain of my university’s women’s varsity tennis team. 

And so, years later, it gave me great joy and pride to have had the opportunity to edit and do the English adaptation of Takeshi Konomi’s The Prince of Tennis manga. It’s an awesome series that revolves around a sport that’s near and dear to my heart. I hope the manga and anime encourage kids to take up tennis and have the chance to live the teenage life I enjoyed.
 
-- Michelle Pangilinan (Associate Editor, SHONEN JUMP)
Holiday Manga Sale

The VIZ Media Store is having a special holiday sale on manga -- buy three volumes of any VIZ Media manga under $9.99 and get a fourth for free! Head over to the store and check out what we have!

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