Fans of the long-running sports manga series, The New Prince of Tennis (Shin Tennis no Ōji-sama), can anticipate its conclusion within the next year, as confirmed by creator Takeshi Konomi. The beloved sequel, which has captivated readers for 16 years, has officially entered its final arc, signaling the approaching end of Ryoma Echizen’s journey in the competitive world of high school tennis.
A Legacy Spanning Decades
The New Prince of Tennis first began serialization in Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine in March 2009, continuing the narrative from the original The Prince of Tennis manga, which ran from 1999 to 2008 in Weekly Shonen Jump. The original series introduced readers to middle school tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen as he navigated rivalries and aimed for national tournaments. The sequel picked up with Ryoma returning to Japan and joining a selection camp for the U-17 (under 17) High School Representatives, bringing together a new echelon of talented players.
Over its extensive run, The Prince of Tennis franchise has grown into a significant cultural phenomenon. The original manga alone sold over 60 million copies by November 2019. Beyond the printed page, the series has inspired numerous adaptations, including a long-running television anime that premiered in 2001, multiple anime feature films, original video animation (OVA) projects, live-action films, a Chinese live-action television series, and a highly popular stage musical series. The New Prince of Tennis also spawned its own anime series in 2012, followed by The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup in 2022 and its sequel, The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Semifinal, which aired from October to December 2024.
The Final Stretch for Ryoma Echizen
The announcement regarding the manga’s impending end came from Takeshi Konomi himself, coinciding with the 26th anniversary of the original The Prince of Tennis manga. The final arc commenced with the August 2025 issue of Jump Square, which became available to readers in Japan on July 4th. This news has generated considerable discussion among fans, eager to witness how the narrative threads will culminate and how Ryoma and his teammates will ultimately conclude their high-stakes tennis careers.
The series has been praised for its unique and often bizarre tennis techniques, pushing the boundaries of sports manga with its over-the-top matches and character development. As The New Prince of Tennis heads towards its finale, it marks the end of a significant chapter in manga history for a franchise that has consistently delivered exciting and engaging sports narratives to its dedicated fanbase.
