Education
Shimizu graduated from the Tokyo Higher Commerce School (now Hitotsubashi University).
清水善造
Shimizu graduated from the Tokyo Higher Commerce School (now Hitotsubashi University).
He reached the All-Comers final of the Wimbledon Championships in 1920, where he lost to Bill Tilden 4–6, 4–6, 11-13. At the 1921 Wimbledon Championships he reached the semifinal which he lost to Manuel Alonso in five sets. He established the earliest period of Japanese tennis together with Ichiya Kumagae.
Shimizu was ranked World Number.
4 by A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph in 1921. Shimizu was mainly a baseline player.
His forehand grip was described as "faulty" but nevertheless his passing shots, which he hit low and with topspin, were judged as excellent. Shimizu"s backhand was orthodox and played with force from the baseline.
His service was hit at shoulder height with precision and reverse twist but without great speed.
His forehand volleys were comparatively weak but his backhand volleys and his smash were first-class. In his book The Art of Lawn Tennis Bill Tilden describes Shimuzu as a baseline player and marvelous court coverer with an uncanny accuracy in his shots. In comparing Shimuzu to his countryman Kumagae he states that Shimizu had a superior backhand and low volleying skills but lacked Kumagae"s forehand drive and had a weaker service.
Their high volleying skills and overheads were judged equal.