Naoko Kijimuta
| Country (sports) |
 Japan
|
|---|---|
| Born |
March 26, 1972 Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in) |
| Turned pro | 1992 |
| Retired | 1998 |
| Prize money | $498,002 |
| 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 | 3 ITF |
| 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) |
| Last updated on: Dec 14, 2010. | |
Naoko Kijimuta (Japanese: 雉子牟田 直子 Kijimuta Naoko, born March 26, 1972 in Ebina, Kanagawa) is a retired Japanese tennis player, winner of 3 professional tournaments in doubles and a representative of Japan in the Federation Cup.
In the 1990s with her sister Akiko, she ranked among the top tennis players in Japan, alongside such players as Kimiko Date and Naoko Sawamatsu. In 1995-1997 she figured in the top hundred in the world ranking in singles, taking a highest ranking in March 1997 - World No. 44 (the season ended 1996 as the world's 50th best player.)
Naoko's best results include the semi-finals singles WTA Tour tournament in Jakarta (defeated by the highest seeded Belgian Sabine Appelmans) and Tokyo (Japan Open) in 1996. Quarterfinals in Strasbourg in 1997. Third round in the US Open 1996 and Wimbledon in 1997.
Greater successes was in doubles. In October 1997, she was ranked 18th and won five tournaments including WTA Tour events and another five lower-ranking (ITF Women's Circuit). All tournament victories on the WTA Tour were with other Japanese partners - Rika Hiraki, Miho Saeki and mostly with Nana Miyagi. Miyagi won three tournaments and twice was in the quarter-finals of Grand Slam (Australian Open 1997 and 1998).
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