Toshiro Sakai

During the late 1960s and early 1970s Toshiro Sakai played tennis for Japan, competing in the Davis Cup, the Olympics, and the Asian Games. Sakai achieved a career-best singles ranking of #75 in the world in October 1973 but never won a title during his career. In 1968 he competed in the singles and doubles at the Mexico City Olympics where tennis was played as a demonstration sport. Two years later he and compatriot Jun Kamiwazumi won gold in the doubles at the 1970 Summer Universiade.

In 1973 Sakai reached the final at the Oska Open but lost in straight sets to the great Australian player Ken Rosewall. The following year he had his best results of his career when he won gold in the singles, doubles, and team event at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran. Sakai also had his best performance at a Grand Slam in the same year, reaching the doubles quarter-finals at the French Open.