“Congrats, Tokito, we’ve known since you were almost a kid, you already destroyed everyone’s chair on tour … you are a great champion,” he said.
“Thanks to my team. They’ve been pushing me a lot, I was struggling a lot at Christmas. It was a tough time for me, and they were pushing me — my team, my family, my girl — they were all pushing me.
“Hopefully, we’re gonna have another battle next year.”
In addition to Oda’s title victory at Melbourne Park in 2024, he also finished runner-up to Hewett in 2023 and 2025. He has now won 41 singles titles before turning 20.
Oda began using a wheelchair at the age of nine after being diagnosed with bone cancer in his leg. Originally a soccer player, he later transitioned to wheelchair tennis.
“Maybe from when I started tennis, I don’t think about a Grand Slam title,” Oda said when asked about his biggest childhood dream.
“I was dreaming of the Paralympic Games, but it was different. I just want a battle since I was a kid. I just love the battle with somebody, you know.
“This is kind of like my dream to play the big match.”
While he looks up to Kunieda as a sporting benchmark, Oda’s first hero was Brazilian football great Neymar Jr, whose flair and individuality left a lasting impression on him.
“Because he changing hairstyle every match, so I just love his style. And he’s still playing. I was doing the same hair as him.”
As the Australian Open celebrates 50 years of wheelchair tennis, Oda’s ascent to stardom stands as a powerful reflection on how far the sport has come — and a compelling sign of where it is headed next.