Duke Watanabe

• CV: Hiyama Nobuyuki
• School: Makinofuji Academy High School (Hyogo Prefecture)
• Grade: 3rd Year High School (Vice-Captain)
• Height: 192cm (6'3.6")
• Weight: 88kg (194 lbs)
• Birthday: February 1st (Aquarius)
• Blood Type: O
• Dominant Hand: Right
• Playstyle: Aggressive Baselines
• Stats: Speed 5 / Power 7 / Stamina 5 / Mental 5 / Technique 5
• Former Middle School: Sorbonne Viennetta (France)
• Eyesight: 2.0 in both eyes
• Favorite Moves: Duke Homerun, Duke Bunt, Play Ball
• Racket: HEAD YouTek Graphene Speed Pro 18/20
• Shoes: adidas adizero MANA II AC M
• Hobbies: Taking walks, cooking
• Family: Grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, younger brother, younger sister
• Club Role: Vice-Captain
• Committee: Disciplinary Committee
• Favorite Color: Dark grey
• Favorite Food: Onigiri, hand-rolled sushi
• Things He Wants Now: A new comb, a sewing kit for his uniform
• Dislikes: Rain, pickled plums
• Special Skill (non-tennis): Filleting a fish into three pieces

Duke is a towering and powerfully built young man, easily recognized by his distinct mohawk hairstyle and beard.

He is always seen with a gentle smile, which contrasts sharply with his intimidating physique.

When he unleashes his full power, his muscles bulge to such an extent that his jersey shirt rips apart, leaving him to play bare-chested.

Despite his immense strength and past moniker, Duke is an incredibly gentle and calm individual.

He often ends his sentences with the polite and agreeable phrase, "Indeed" ("desunā").

Duke is fiercely loyal to Hōō Byōdōin, whom he respectfully calls "Boss" ("Okashira"), and follows him with deep admiration.

He values honor and sportsmanship, preferring a gentle and skillful style of tennis over his destructive power play.

Duke is half-French and was formerly a member of the French national team.

Two years prior, during the French tournament, he was the ace of the French team, feared under the moniker "The Destroyer."

His life changed when a pile of rubble nearly fell on his younger sister, Chloe, just before a match against Japan.

Hōō Byōdōin, a member of the opposing team, selflessly threw himself in the way to protect Chloe, sustaining a serious injury.

Duke later faced the injured Byōdōin in their match and won, but he was profoundly moved by Byōdōin's courage and refusal to use the injury as an excuse. Feeling a deep sense of gratitude, Duke left the French team to join the Japanese national team, wishing to fight alongside the man he so admired.

Duke is an Aggressive Baselines who overwhelms opponents with the number one power in Japanese high school tennis.

However, his raw strength belies his true skill, which lies in "gentle, small techniques" and a delicate, strategic game.

When he gets serious, he shouts "Play Ball!" and flexes his muscles, ripping his shirt and unleashing his full potential. In this state, even his regular shots are said to be powerful enough to break an opponent's racket on impact.

Duke Homerun

A devastating power shot where Duke swings his racket like a baseball bat, launching the ball with enough force to send his opponent flying out of the court.

Despite its brute force appearance, the move requires incredible precision to strike the racket's sweet spot perfectly.

Duke Bunt

The polar opposite of his Homerun, this is a delicate drop shot used as a soft touch.

He uses it in combination with the Homerun to masterfully disrupt his opponent's rhythm.

Duke Buster

A powerful backhand shot that serves as another one of his heavy-hitting options.

Play Ball

His signature call to unleash his full muscular power, causing his jersey to burst from the strain.

Other Abilities

• Resonance (Howling): An ability that allows him to synchronize with his doubles partner.
• Destroy: The manifestation of his past as "The Destroyer," a purely power-focused style.
• Creation (Schöpfung): A technique used in tandem with Destroy.

Hōō Byōdōin

Duke holds Byōdōin in the highest regard, calling him "Boss" and displaying unwavering loyalty. This bond was forged when Byōdōin saved his sister's life, and Duke chose to follow him to Japan to fight by his side. The two are close, with Byōdōin apparently climbing up to Duke's balcony just to visit his room.

• His family name, Watanabe, was inspired by a former editor of the manga's author, who apparently resembled Duke.
• His character model is based on Clayton Jackson.
• He got his mohawk after simply asking a barber for a "cool" hairstyle.
• He once remarked, "This reminds me of my mischievous days," prompting others to wonder just how old he is.

U-17 Camp

In the first-string shuffle matches, Duke faced Gin Ishida. He demonstrated his overwhelming power by defeating Ishida with his "Duke Homerun," which proved stronger than Ishida's "Hyakuhachi-shiki Hadōkyū" and forced Ishida to retire from the match.

Pre-World Cup Exhibition Match

During the exhibition match against Germany, Duke was paired with Shūsuke Fuji for the first match against the Michael Bismarck and Elmar Siegfried pair. He used his "Duke Homerun" to incapacitate Siegfried early on. Afterward, Duke revealed his true, gentle style of tennis, creating a beautiful flow to the game and securing a crucial victory for Japan.

World Cup Group Stage

In the group stage match against Switzerland, Duke was selected for "Team Ume." He played doubles (D1) with Gin Ishida, focusing on supporting his partner, but they were ultimately defeated.

World Cup Finals Tournament

• vs. France: Duke was selected for the roster against his former team. He was scheduled to play in the Singles 1 match, but the competition was decided in the Singles 2 match, so he did not get a chance to play.
• vs. Germany (Semifinals): Duke paired with Masaharu Nio for the Doubles 2 match against the Volk brothers, Jürgen and Bertie. They initially took the lead thanks to Nio's Illusion, but were eventually pushed into a corner. At the crucial moment, their "Resonance" ability activated, and Duke won the match by launching Nio with a "Duke Homerun" to hit the final shot.
• Spain Match Lineup Tournament: Duke entered the internal tournament to fight for a spot in the final against Spain. He played Singles 1 and faced Masaharu Nio in the first round, winning with a perfect game against a Nio who chose not to use his Illusion.

In the final, he faced Kazuya Tokugawa. Viewing this as the last major match of his high school career, Duke fought with all his might to secure the S1 spot. He unsealed his "God of Destruction" mode, shattering Tokugawa's "Asura," but was ultimately defeated by Tokugawa, who held fast to his own "righteousness" until the very end.