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University of Illinois Athletics

2020-21 Women's Tennis Roster

Craig Pessman / Illinois Athletics
Craig Pessman / Illinois Athletics

Asuka Kawai

  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Palatine, Ill.
  • High School Palatine High School

Biography

Career Statistics

Singles Doubles
Season Overall Big Ten Overall Big Ten
2017-18 15-15 5-5 14-8 6-2
2018-19 18-10 8-2 19-7 9-2
2019-20 2-1 0-0 4-2 0-0
2019-21 9-11 6-8 10-13 6-9
Total 44-37 19-15 47-29 21-12

Rankings History

Career-High Singles Ranking: 20 ( Sept. 17, 2019 (Fall))

  • 35 (May 29, 2019 (Final))
  • 107 (January 2021)

Collegiate Honors   

  • 2019 ITA All-American (Singles)
  • 2019 NCAA Singles qualifier
  • 2x B1G Athlete of the Week (Feb. 26 and March 5, 2019)
  • 2019 Unanimous All-Big Ten selection 
  • 2019 Academic All-Big Ten
  • 2019 Team MVP*
  • 2018 Fighting Illini Spirit Award* 

*team award 

Senior - 2021

  • Entered the season ranked No. 107 by ITA
  • Won her doubles matchup with Josie Frazier 7-6 (7-3) at the #1 spot against No. 7 ranked Northwestern
  • Won her doubles match with Josie Frazier on court one in a 4-3 victory over Minnesota
  • Clinched a 4-3 win over Purdue with her win on court one
  • Won her singles match on court one in a Senior Day upset of #7 Northwestern

Junior- 2019-20   

  • Played at No. 3 doubles and clinched two doubles points
  • Primarily played at No. 1 singles
  • Was ranked 121 on Feb. 18
  • Had a career-high ranking of 20 in the Fall (Sept. 17, 2019)

Sophomore - 2018-19   

  • Becomes the fourth Illini in program history to earn All-America honors and the second in singles play.
    • This marked the first All-American under fourth-year head coach Evan Clark.
  • Concluded the NCAA Singles Championships with a quarterfinalist finish, which is the best finish in program history (surpassing Illinois Athletics Hall of Famer, Lindsey Nimmo Bristow).
  • Accumulated a singles record of 15-10 at the No. 1 position, including 11 wins over nationally-ranked opponents
  • Paired with Rabinowitz to secure a team-best 19 doubles victories on the season
  • Clinched three matched for the Illini, including Illinois' upset over No. 18 Ohio State on April 21

Freshman - 2017-18   

  • Clinched five Illini victories, including the first dual match of the season and Illinois's 4-3 win over Wake Forest to earn the Illini the 2018 Blue Gray National Tennis Classic title 
  • Played primarily at the No. 1 and 2 singles positions 
  • Clinched six doubles points 

High School | Junior Tennis  

  • Top-20 prospect in 2016; ranked No. 2 prospect in Illinois 
  • 20-1 overall record in USTA competition 
  • Singles champion at the 2015 Midwest L3 Winter Championships, the 2016 Midwest L3 Spring Championships in 2016 and the 2016 ITA Championship Summer Circuit

Personal 

  • Daughter of Akiko and Toshio Kawai 
  • Has one sister, Kanae 
  • Chose Illinois because of the team and atmosphere 
  • Favorite athlete: Usain Bolt 
  • Intends to major in neuroscience 

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 2017-18Freshman

  • 2018-19Sophomore

  • 2019-20Junior

  • 2020-21Senior