Echizen Ryoma is a new student at Seishun Academy Middle School (Seigaku) which is the school he transferred to from the United States. Although only a freshman, Ryoma's brilliant tennis skills had previously earned him a background of winning four consecutive titles in the American Junior Tennis tournaments - all in a little over a year. Due to his nearly invincible tennis play, at the age of twelve, Ryoma is already labeled as a genius. His amazingly good looks and sometimes cocky attitude has made him highly popular with girls, but he doesn't seem to notice at all. Tennis is his life.


He is an all-round tennis player and his special abilities are Twist Serve, One-Footed Split-Step, Cyclone Smash (or Cool Drive in the manga), and Drive Volley, such as "Drive B" and "Drive A". Above all his Twist Serve is powerful. With his amazing control, the ball spins at the opponent's face with amazing speed and powerful spin. One of Ryoma's greatest talents is his ability to learn new techniques at an amazingly fast pace.

Although he is left-handed, his famous Twist Serve is only effective when delivered from the dominant hand of his opponents (ex. he uses his right hand when serving against right handed players and vice versa). He sometime plays the game with his right hand. This is mainly used as either a handicap for weaker opponents and as a way to test his opponents abilities. When the need for returning at a difficult angle or distance arises, Ryoma also incorporates the use of "nitoryū" or ambidexterity.

His catchphrase is "mada mada dane," literally meaning "no, not yet." Depending on the context, it can either mean "you're still not there yet" (to an opponent) or "it's not over yet." (Having been brought up in the United States most of his life, Ryoma is fluent in English, and in the manga, he says "You still have lots more to work on.")

Ryoma Echizen can be quite cocky and arrogant at times, but he is always able to back up his statements with his tennis skills. Often before a match, Ryoma will provoke his opponent. In the beginning of the series, Ryoma was not taken seriously by the other students at his school, and especially at Seigaku tennis club. Only after when he beat 2 of Seigaku's regulars did he gain respect with fellow club members. Because of his tennis skills, people are beginning to wonder about the "amazing freshmen."

Echizen is a quiet kid, but he always stands up for himself and for others. If this means talking back to an upperclassmen, he'll do it. He is not afraid and is always ready to push the limits. Rarely does he get angry or out of control. Much of the time, he is serious, quiet, and untalkative.

Sakuno Ryuzaki, a friend of his' and coach Ryuuzaki's granddaughter, has a big crush on Ryoma (more obvious in the anime than in the manga, though), but because he is so aloof, he does not recognize her feelings for him. There have been however, hints in the manga that there may be a future relationship between them.