Mari Tadaki

Hello everyone, I'm Mari Tadaki — my maiden name is Mari Tanaka. I think I started tennis at about five, but even before that I used to play around hitting against the wall at a tennis club.

My main results: All Japan Championships mixed doubles champion in 2011 and women's doubles champion in 2014. As a junior, I won the Inter-High School singles in my second year and the triple crown in my third, and I represented Japan at the Junior Fed Cup with Yurika Sema.

I retired at 28 and now work as a regular employee at Hashimoto Sogyo. I'm in the review and legal department, and my work includes contracts for tennis players.

A few times a year I play, through work, in a tournament in Nagoya or a team event in Obihiro under the company name, but this is my first truly serious competition in 11 years.

Since my entry was confirmed at the end of August, I've been practising with Yurika Sema, who's the same age as me. Only once or twice a week, but I can finally last a two-hour session, and with a month to go we're working together to see how much we can get back.

It won't go as well as when I was on tour, but taking the ball early has always been my style, so I'd like people to watch for that.

I'm now doing the kind of corporate work I wanted to try after retiring, so I want to build on my experience and actively take on a wider range of work.

Many players who shone in the past are set to take part. With current and retired players teaming up, I think it will be a uniquely exciting team event. Please look forward to it.

I'd be grateful for your warm support at the venue.