The 9 Ultimate Anime About Tennis

Tennis is a sport played worldwide and has many fans in Japan too, with around 8.5% of the population who enjoyed watching matches in 2021.

This love for the rackets is showcased in anime and manga, even though tennis can’t boast a lot of series. Luckily, things are changing in the last few years with more and more shows.

This listicle is highly subjective and anime are ranked based on our knowledge and opinions.

9. Animation x Paralympic

Animation x Paralympic is a series of short animated movies made to promote the 2020 Summer Paralympics Games in Tokyo.

It includes 14 episodes, each one featuring a different Paralympic sport, made in collaboration with famous anime creators.

The one about tennis features Shingo Kunieda, the four-time Paralympic medal winner and currently n°1 in the world in his specialty.

This episode also features an appearance from the characters of the anime Baby Steps.

8. Usakame

Usakame is a short anime tv show aired in 2016 and is a spinoff of the more popular Teekyuu.

It’s a story about four girls called Tanaka Kinako, Suzuki Ayako, Sato Kurumi, and Nishiarai-Taishi Nishi.

They are part of the school’s tennis club and the plot depicts their life as they grow, figure out their dreams, and how to pursue them.

The comedic nature and the length of the series make it a very light watch that is sure to entertain its viewers.

7. Ultra Maniac

Ultra Maniac tells the story of Ayu Tateishi, a high school student who’s also the leader of the tennis club.

She meets transfer student Nina Sakura while she is crying about some object she lost. Ayu will find Nina’s electronic device so Nina will thank her by revealing her nature as a witch.

Ayu doesn’t seem impressed because she doesn’t believe her, so Nina will cast a spell to help her win a tennis game against the boys. This will result in Ayo turning into a boy.

This won’t be the last misadventure that the couple will go through because Nina’s search for the five Holy Stones will turn Ayu’s world upside-down.

6. Softenni

This is a 12-episode anime TV show aired in the spring of 2011. It’s mostly a comedy so the plot is very light and easy to follow.

The story follows Asuna Harukaze, a middle school student, and her teammates in the Soft Tennis Club.

Their objective is to get Shiratama Middle School to win the Soft Tennis National Championship but of course, they will encounter a lot of obstacles and competitors who want to stop them.

This light-hearted show tells us a story about overcoming hardships with a comedic spin that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

5. Teekyu

This 12-episode anime from 2012 follows the actions of four girls who are members of their school’s tennis club.

The plot doesn’t revolve much around tennis per se. It’s more a story about four very eccentric girls and their wacky adventures.

Yuri, the younger of the bunch is the only one who actually knows how to play tennis and is also the more mature one. She has to deal with the out-of-control behavior of her teammates.

It has been a very successful show that spawned many spinoffs, all very light and comedic.

4. Aim for the Ace!

Aim for the Ace is an anime broadcast between 1973 and 1974, making it one of the earliest examples of anime revolving around tennis.

The plot follows15-year-old Hiromi Oka who is very passionate about tennis and joins the school’s tennis club.

Jin Munakata is the rigorous trainer of the team who puts everyone under pressure. He notices Hiromi and puts her in the main team where she will experience lots of hardship and will have to prove herself.

Unlike many other entries on this list, Aim for the Ace! has a more serious tone and deals with topics such as the importance of hard work and the clash between love and career.

The original manga is one of the most influential shojo ever and inspired a part of the title of Aim for the Top! GunBuster, one of Hideaki Anno’s earliest creations.

3. Stars Align

Toma Shinjou is trying to recruit new players for the school’s male soft tennis club that’s facing disbandment due to constant failures.

Maki Katsuragi is a new student that catches Toma’s eye because of his very good reflexes.

Maki will refuse to join the team but in the end, will be convinced by Toma’s stubbornness and his willingness to pay him for his participation.

The team performances will raise dramatically and Maki’s talent will push other members of the team to better themselves.

2. Baby Steps

Baby Steps is a successful anime that premiered in 2014

Eiichiro Maruo is a methodical and study-oriented high schooler who decides to join the Southern Tennis Club at the beginning of his first year. This is not a decision driven by passion but by his worries about his health and physical well-being.

He meets Natsu Takasaki, another student, who, contrary to Eiichiro, joined to become a professional tennis player due to her love for tennis.

Eiichiro will slowly start to love the sport he is practicing and will craft his unique play style that mirrors his perfectionist nature.

Matches are exciting and the focus is more on feelings and emotions rather than the actual sport. Baby Steps isn’t just underrated but ideal for those who are unsure about tennis, give this anime a try!

1. The Prince of Tennis

This anime tv show premiered in the fall of 2001 and revolves around Ryouma Echizen, a tennis prodigy who came back to America to show off his talent and conquer his country’s tennis scene.

Ryouma enrolls in Seishun Academy, home of one of the best middle school tennis teams in Japan. Here he catches the attention of the captain of the team and becomes part of the Seishun Boys’ Tennis Team.

The team wants to get a spot in the National Tournament and to do so they have to beat countless other teams.

Ryouma will struggle to be accepted by his teammates but his talent will grant him the respect he is owed by allies and enemies alike.

This anime takes a lot of time since it’s 178 episodes and the plot differs from the original. In fact, expect changes before the third half of the series, the animators wanted to craft a unique experience to avoid repetitions.

It’s not the usual anime about sports, The Prince of Tennis is much more than that.