Former French Open Champion Rika Hiraki Arrested Over Romance Scam July 23

Rika Hiraki, the 1997 French Open mixed doubles champion, was arrested on July 22 by Kochi Prefectural Police on suspicion of involvement in a romance scam. The 54-year-old former tennis star is accused of helping defraud a woman in Kagoshima of 300,000 yen through an elaborate scheme involving a fake French surgeon. Hiraki denies the charges, telling investigators she has no memory of the incident. Police are investigating whether her bank account was used in other fraud cases.

How the scam worked

In May 2022, a woman in Kagoshima received a Facebook message from someone posing as a French orthopaedic surgeon. The fake surgeon claimed he needed money to cover customs certificate costs to release his deceased wife’s belongings shipped to Japan. The woman transferred 300,000 yen to an account registered under Hiraki’s name on May 30, 2022. CCTV footage showed Hiraki withdrawing most of the funds on the same day. About 270,000 yen was moved to a cryptocurrency account also in her name before disappearing.

Hiraki’s tennis career and legacy

Hiraki, born in Beirut in 1971, became one of Japan’s most accomplished doubles players. She won the All Japan Tennis Championship five times and reached a career-high doubles ranking of 26th. Her 1997 French Open victory with Indian partner Mahesh Bhupathi was historic: the first Grand Slam mixed doubles title for a Japanese player in 63 years. She competed alongside legends like Kimiko Date during Japan’s tennis golden age in the 1990s. Hiraki retired in 2003 and worked as an office employee in Chiba Prefecture.

Police investigation expands

Investigators discovered Hiraki’s account while probing an unrelated fraud ring. Police found her bank account had been used in multiple romance scam cases. On July 22 at 1 p.m., officers arrested Hiraki at her home in Chiba and transported her to Kochi. She maintains her innocence, stating she has no recollection of the alleged crime. Prosecutors plan to send the case to prosecutors on July 24 and are investigating potential accomplices and additional victims.

Questions about account misuse

The case raises questions about how a bank account in Hiraki’s name became a conduit for international fraud. Police have not disclosed whether Hiraki authorized the account’s use or if it was compromised. The rapid movement of funds to cryptocurrency suggests organized criminal involvement. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are examining whether Hiraki was a knowing participant, an unwitting tool, or a victim of identity misuse herself.

Final Thoughts

Hiraki’s arrest marks a stunning fall for a tennis pioneer who helped define Japan’s 1990s sports legacy. While her account was clearly used in the scam, her denial and the complexity of the scheme suggest the full story remains unclear. The case underscores how romance fraud rings exploit bank accounts across borders.

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