Rika Hiraki arrested in Japan over alleged romance scam
Rika Hiraki, the former Japanese tennis player who won the 1997 French Open mixed doubles title, has been arrested in Kochi Prefecture on suspicion of involvement in a social media romance scam that allegedly took 300,000 yen from a Kagoshima woman. The 54-year-old denies the allegations. Police say the money landed in an account under her name, and surveillance footage appears to show her withdrawing cash—placing the ex-pro in a case that has shocked tennis fans and readers of Bizarre News & Florida Man alike.
Key Takeaways
- Rika Hiraki, 54, a 1997 French Open mixed doubles champion, was arrested in Kochi Prefecture over an alleged romance scam.
- Police suspect she conspired with another person to defraud a Kagoshima woman of 300,000 yen in 2022.
- The victim was contacted via the Line app by someone posing as a male doctor in France.
- Hiraki denies the allegations; investigators are also reviewing other account activity.
Who is Rika Hiraki and what happened?
Rika Hiraki is a former professional tennis player from Japan who peaked at No. 72 in singles and No. 26 in doubles. Her career highlight was winning the mixed doubles title at the 1997 French Open. She now works as a company employee, according to police sources cited by Nippon.com (Jiji Press).
Kochi Prefecture police arrested her on suspicion of involvement in a social media-based fraud case. News On Japan reported that Sukumo Police Station is handling the matter. The arrest became public on July 23, 2026.
How did the alleged romance scam work?
According to police sources, between Feb. 15 and May 30, 2022, Hiraki is suspected of conspiring with an unidentified person to defraud a woman then in her 50s who lived in Kagoshima.
The victim was contacted via the messaging app Line by someone claiming to be a male orthopedic surgeon at a hospital in France. He told her his luggage had been stopped at customs and that he needed money to obtain a certificate. She then transferred 300,000 yen—about $1,900—to a bank account registered under Hiraki's name.
About 270,000 yen of that money was later moved to another account through a crypto-asset account also under Hiraki's name. Security camera footage showed a person appearing to be Hiraki withdrawing cash. Police said they found other transactions in the account believed to be linked to fraud, and Hiraki has denied the allegation.
Why does this arrest matter beyond tennis?
Romance and social-media scams remain a persistent threat worldwide, and this case stands out because the suspect is a Grand Slam champion whose name still carries public recognition. The alleged scheme mixed a fake overseas doctor persona, an app-based pitch, a named bank account, and crypto transfers—tactics familiar in many online fraud investigations.
Because Hiraki denies wrongdoing, the case remains an allegation under Japanese law until proven in court. For readers tracking odd and high-profile crime stories, the arrest underscores how even celebrated athletes can become entangled in fraud probes years after leaving the spotlight.