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Shinobu Asagoe

Shinobu Asagoe
浅越しのぶ
Country (sports)  Japan
Residence Hyōgo, Japan
Born (1976-06-28) June 28, 1976 (age 40)
Hyōgo, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Turned pro 1997
Retired 2006
Plays Right-handed
Prize money US$1,662,261
Singles
Career record 275–208
Career titles 0 WTA, 9 ITF
Highest ranking No. 21 (April 18, 2005)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open 2R (2005, 2006)
French Open 4R (2004)
Wimbledon 4R (2003)
US Open QF (2004)
Doubles
Career record 226–148
Career titles 8 WTA, 10 ITF
Highest ranking No. 13 (May 8, 2006)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open SF (2006)
French Open QF (2002, 2005)
Wimbledon 3R (2003, 2005)
US Open 3R (2005, 2006)

Shinobu Asagoe (浅越しのぶ Asagoe Shinobu?, born June 28, 1976) is a Japanese former professional tennis player. She turned professional in 1997, and retired in 2006.

2000 was the first year in which she finished in the WTA top 100 (no. 72). In the US Open that year, she defeated Patty Schnyder, a top 50 player. She also reached her first WTA tour quarterfinal that year at the Princess Cup at Tokyo defeating Ai Sugiyama and losing to Monica Seles. She also represented Japan at the Sydney Olympics. In 2003, she reached her first WTA tour singles final. In 2004, she reached her second career singles final in Hobart, as well as her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open. On April 18, 2005, Asagoe reached her career-high singles ranking: 21st. In May of the following year, she reached her career high doubles ranking (13th).

Asagoe appeared in one WTA Tour final in Auckland 2003 where she lost to Katarina Srebotnik 5–7, 7–5, 6–4. Asagoe held a 4–0 lead in the second when Srebotnik took an injury timeout. From there Strebotnik played "all in" tennis and won the match, in what was an agonising result for Asagoe.

Asagoe's most memorable match was a second-round marathon at Wimbledon 2003, when her stressed-out opponent, Daniela Hantuchová, melted down well on the way to what looked like a routine two-set win. Eventually, after nearly three hours, Asagoe won the contest 12–10 in the third set.

Plays doubles with Katarina Srebotnik; at Australian Open 2006, reached the semifinal, beating (2) Cara Black/Rennae Stubbs 6–3 4–6 6–0. They lost to eventual champions Yan/Zheng in the semifinals. It was a sad day in Asagoe's fans lives as they expected her to grace the title.


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