Roland Garros Champion Arrested in Japan for Fraud

Japanese former tennis player Rika Hiraki, winner of the 1997 Roland Garros mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi, has been arrested by Japanese police on suspicion of being involved in an online fraud committed four years ago. The 54-year-old former player denies any involvement in the events and claims not to recall participating in the investigated scam, as reported by Ubitennis.

The case has caused a significant stir in Japan, where Hiraki made history as the first Japanese tennis player in over two decades to win a Grand Slam title.

Hiraki accused of online scam

According to the investigation by the Kochi Prefecture Police, a woman fell victim in 2022 to a scam where an individual impersonated an orthopedic surgeon from a hospital in Paris. The fake doctor requested 300,000 yen to cover alleged customs expenses for belongings of his deceased wife sent to Japan.

Authorities claim the money was transferred to a bank account under Rika Hiraki's name. Security camera footage reportedly shows the former tennis player withdrawing cash from that account on the same day as the transfer. Additionally, police are investigating whether other victims sent money to the same account and are examining the transfer of 270,000 yen which, according to the allegations, was channeled through a cryptocurrency account also registered under Hiraki's name.

Hiraki has denied the accusations during her police statement, stating: "I have no recollection of it." Hiraki had a successful professional career, reaching world number 72 in singles and 26 in doubles, and winning six WTA titles, all in doubles. Her major achievement came at the 1997 Roland Garros, where she lifted the mixed doubles trophy with Bhupathi, marking one of the key moments in Japanese tennis at that time.