| Country (sports) |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Born | (1972-03-26)March 26, 1972 (age 53) Ebina, Kanagawa |
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft4+1⁄2 in) |
| Turned pro | 1992 |
| Retired | 1998 |
| Prize money | $499,278 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 122–112 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 44 (March 3, 1997) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) |
| French Open | 2R (1997) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1997) |
| US Open | 3R (1996) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 125–87 |
| Career titles | 5WTA, 5ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 18 (October 13, 1997) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (1997, 1998) |
| French Open | 3R (1997) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1997, 1998) |
| US Open | 3R (1997) |
Naoko Kijimuta (Japanese: 雉子牟田 直子,Kijimuta Naoko, born March 26, 1972) is a retired tennis player and winner of five professional doubles tournaments. She has been a representative ofJapan in theFederation Cup.
In the 1990s with her sisterAkiko, she ranked among the top tennis players in Japan, alongside such players asKimiko Date andNaoko Sawamatsu. From 1995 to 1997, she figured in the world top 100 in singles, taking a highest ranking in March 1997 - No. 44 (the season ended 1996 as the world's 50th best player).
Naoko's best results include the singles semifinals of theWTA Tour tournament inJakarta (defeated by top-seeded BelgianSabine Appelmans) and (Japan Open) in 1996, quarterfinals inStrasbourg in 1997, third rounds at the1996 US Open and1997 Wimbledon.
Greater successes she had in doubles, where she was ranked 18th in October 1997, and won five tournaments includingWTA Tour events and another five lower-ranking (ITF Women's Circuit). All titles on theWTA Tour came with Japanese partners -Rika Hiraki,Miho Saeki and mostly withNana Miyagi. Miyagi won three tournaments and twice was in the quarterfinal of aGrand Slam tournament (Australian Open 1997 and 1998).
Kijimuta and Miyagi also appeared in several semifinals and sometimes in the last eight of Grand Slam events (Wimbledon,French Open andUS Open in 1997, as well asWimbledon in 1998 - this time victory over the Williams sisters by default).
Naoko Kijimuta played doubles in theFederation Cup 1997 and 1998, partnering Nana Miyagi andKyoko Nagatsuka, but lost all three games.
Her tennis career ended in September 1998, at theToyota Princess Cup tournament in Tokyo, where she passed the qualifying in the singles to be defeated in the first round of the main draw by GermanAnke Huber in three sets. Also the first round of the tournament in doubles (along with Rika Hiraki) ended in defeat.
Her career earnings was almost half a million dollars.
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Oct 1993 | Sapporo Open, Japan | Carpet (i) | Yone Kamio |  Yayuk BasukiNana Smith | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Apr 1996 | Jakarta Open, Indonesia | Hard | Rika Hiraki |  Laurence CourtoisNancy Feber | 7–6, 7–5 |
| Win | 2–1 | Oct 1996 | China Open | Hard | Miho Saeki | Yuko HosokiKazue Takuma | 7–5, 6–4 |
| Win | 3–1 | Jan 1997 | Gold Coast Classic, Australia | Hard | Nana Smith |  Ruxandra Dragomir Silvia Farina | 7–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 4–1 | Jan 1997 | Hobart International, Australia | Hard | Nana Smith |  Barbara RittnerDominique Van Roost | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 5–1 | Apr 1998 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | Nana Smith |  Amy FrazierRika Hiraki | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
| $75,000 tournaments |
| $50,000 tournaments |
| $25,000 tournaments |
| $10,000 tournaments |
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | 23 September 1991 | ITF Kuroshio, Japan | Hard |  Li Fang | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1. | 28 September 1992 | ITF Ibaraki, Japan | Hard | Yuko Hosoki | Lisa McSheaAmy deLone | 6–3, 2–2 ret. |
| Win | 2. | 5 October 1992 | ITF Kuroshio, Japan | Hard | Yuko Hosoki | Yuka TanakaMami Donoshiro | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Win | 3. | 19 October 1992 | ITF Kyoto, Japan | Hard | Yuko Hosoki | Varalee SureephongMasako Yanagi | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Loss | 4. | 28 June 1993 | ITF Columbia, United States | Hard | Yuko Hosoki | Keiko Nagatomi Mika Todo | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Win | 5. | 5 July 1993 | ITF Indianapolis, United States | Hard | Yuko Hosoki |  Kate McDonaldStephanie Reece | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Win | 6. | 16 August 1993 | ITF Arzachena, Italy | Clay | Akiko Kijimuta | Linda FerrandoSilvia Farina Elia | 6–0, 7–5 |
| Loss | 7. | 30 October 1994 | ITF Tarakan, Indonesia | Hard | Yone Kamio | Catherine BarclayKerry-Anne Guse | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 8. | 6 August 1995 | ITF Austin, United States | Hard | Yuka Yoshida | Shannan McCarthyJulie Steven | 4–6, 3–6 |
