After returning to Japan for the summer, I suddenly got the chance to enter an international tournament — so we quickly booked a flight and headed to Fiji.

Before the break, my coaches at the Rafa Nadal Academy had told me, “If you can find an ITF Junior event in Asia during the summer, it might be worth trying.” I’d heard that tournaments in Asia sometimes have fewer total players than in Europe, but one thing this trip taught me is that tennis travel can change in an instant — and being ready to move quickly is an important skill to have.

It was my first time in the Southern Hemisphere. During the transit in Brisbane, it felt like full winter and even the airport was cold, but Fiji was warm and tropical — a much better climate for playing tennis than the peak summer heat in Japan.

I’m not necessarily focused on chasing ITF points, but I know these tournaments are valuable for gaining international experience.

As for the results: I lost in the second round in both singles and doubles, but the matches were close and against seeded players, which gave me confidence. Still, there’s a lot to work on — especially learning how to manage energy and stay composed under the pressure of matches.