i have been looking for a very good tennis manga and so far this one did not disappoint me. IMO this is the best tennis manga out there.. the mangaka is either a tennis player or he interviewed real tennis players unlike some mangakas out there who uses out of this world shots or powers to make a story happen..

personally i have been playing tennis for 20yrs or so, and this manga brings back a lot of memories as a beginner and also about competing as an unseeded player..and being amazed by what seeded can do, hehe..but at the same time learning a lot from them..

again, a must read for tennis players, it has a realistic approach to tennis and also it has a good plot..thanks for the scanlators as well for taking on this one...keep it up guys! btw, just a comment on the translated term, when you're able to keep your serve the right term would be "service hold" not service keep...its either you hold your serve or your opponent "breaks" it, hence the "breakpoint" as opposed to "gamepoint".

... Last updated on August 26th, 2010, 9:32pm

I find CrimsonRuby's comment really misleading. The main character isn't meant to come off as being precocious. You just don't understand japanese culture enough to get what they mean by 'old'. The way he simply accepts the ideology that working hard equals success and does everything very methodically and routinely represents a 'traditional' approach to life. In the old days people laughed at you for having a dream that was seemingly out of reach. You were supposed to know your place in life and work hard at the things in front of you. This is very much unlike his classmates who either like to slack off and play around which is pretty normal these days, or the modern version of E-chan which is represented by Nat-chan: having a dream and striving for it. I also find it hypocritical to say that Nat-chan has barely met E-chan and is a busybody for calling him weird and giving him advice... seriously... you've only just read 1 chapter and you think you have the right to judge her?? If you seriously think the characters are so off then maybe you should just quit reading this manga. It's obviously lost on you.

The main character is unique because unlike other shounen manga protagonist he isn't all powerful, he's not a genius, he doesn't have a huge ego or the self-confidence to believe that he can be the best. He's a traditionalist who is discovering for the first time in his life something he enjoys doing. He's made it his goal (he had none previously) and strives to achieve it the old school way: through meticulous hard work and training, in the hopes of reaching perfection through routinely practicing and studying the basics. This is reminiscent of guys who trained in dojos for years and years hoping to perfect the form and principles of a particular school of sword style.

Obviously this is a shounen manga so it's not supposed to be super realistic, so of course he progresses quite far in a short amount of time. It's better than dragging it out... I especially hate it when sports mangas take 10 chapters to finish one game and fortunately this one doesn't do that.

Very good manga.
Main character isn't a genius, which is great. You feel like the main character has attained skill through hard work, and that his success is deserved.
It's also realistic, because it also shows that you can't always win but through hard work you can still have a chance.

Its not really romance in general that ruins sports manga imo, its just lack of mature romance. I'd like to see one with the romance portion not so... beating around the bush. Unfortunately I don't think there will ever be one like that. ;_;
Anyways, pretty good manga so far, but this is coming from the pov of a tennis player.

seriusly like this manga it is fresh and fun to read
I like the original main character and his development till now
actually I only made this account to thanks imangascans for it

i hope the romance doesnt come into play forr a loooonnnggg time, that shiz almost always screws up sports manga, just give a lil dash and focus on the rivalry. all in all i like his focus and strategies, good story ya.

Sports manga recently has become bland and typical, but not Baby Steps. The fact that the main protagonist is not somebody with godly genius or a beginner with godly talent, instead having a strong work ethics and dedication is very heartwarming. It's entertaining to see how the E-chan works very hard and dedicate himself so much in things he likes, without getting swayed from his original purpose as a student. I bet this manga could be a lesson for all of us, to do what we love and to finish what we started. I can't wait for this manga to be updated. It is really good and a must read for everybody. It is not pretentious and very fun to enjoy.

this is so good! it's simplistic in its goodness.

the level of intensity with which he works at something he doesn't love is not normal. i love that she wants him to find something he does have a passion for- imagine the amount of effort he puts into schoolwork going into something he honestly enjoys! (i've only read a couple chapters so far)

that seems to be a common theme in manga- do your best in what you love. the boy loves a girl who does her best, the boy is admirable for always doing his best, etc, etc. i love that. this is a really good one.

In my opinion, this is a perfect series.
Not perfect as in the EPIC rating that gantz or berserk or some of those super series gets. Not perfect as in art, story, premise, or anything.
For me.... it's just awesome. Art? A. Characters(story)? A. Execution? A.
The main hero is a unique character. Not talking about the weird hair thingey. It's just how he acts, what he does. Everyone in those shonen mangas from jumps are called geniuses, and when they're not, they're called geniuses at practicing and shit.
This dude? He just studies. HE doesn't act like an idiot. The mangaka says he acts like an old man, and it works. He's just an alright dude that just studies and acts so... you know, out there. No one's really going to hate him, people will probably like him.
The art is good, and the girl has that definite cute feeling.
The first chapter had a bit of that slow moving vibe which was plainly perfect, and as it progresses, it doens't move super fast, but at the perfect pace.
I am reminded of prince of tennis. I don't know why. it has the same sport... but it's much different. I just.... like it. IT's awesome.

MOAR SCANS BITCHESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please.

I just read the first chapter and I have to say, wow, the characters in the manga are giving off such a bad vibe. So the main character works hard at something and the girl calls him weird?! How about her working hard to become a tennis pro, are you weird too? And how come people keeps saying he's weird, one person even says he gives her the creeps! That pisses me off to no end.

Also, the manga keeps saying he thinks like an older person (I guess precocious is the right word to describe him), with that way of thinking, he shouldn't be such a pushover, especially if it's being done by a girl the same age that he barely knows and has just recently met. Telling him that he should do the stuff he enjoys and all that. You just met him and barely know him, why do you say that kind of stuff! Such a busybody know-it-all. With the way he is, he should be more confident in the things he's doing and thinking, and shouldn't be so easily swayed by words from a person that barely knows him.

He clearly has a defined goal for the future and works really hard for it. With the effort he has put in it, he should be feeling more strongly for that goal, but he doesn't! And is easily hesitant and so unsure and wishy-washy about his goals and future. Arrggh! It doesn't make sense! There's one line that clinches this for me, "Does Takasaki-san go through that on a daily basis?" OMG, you work just as hard or harder than her everyday too! Why are you thinking these stupid thoughts and comparing her to yourself and her dreams to your dreams? Why does it sound like he puts in no effort to anything!? Arghhh.

Lastly, the main character is so off for some reason, it's like he's not really thinking like a guy, especially with his background of thinking for the future, being precocious and doing great in school. With all of that, he should have a bigger head and have more ego and pride, but he doesn't?! Why? Speaking from a guy's perspective, I don't get him at all.

PS. He definitely has no "guts" and definitely didn't get an A in PE. You have no stamina, so you run away. That's it. That's the way you should do it. *smacks him on the face*

PPS. His motivation for getting into tennis sucks and is one of the weakest points in the plot.

... Last updated on November 3rd, 2009, 12:54pm