The two play in the Singles 3 match during Seigaku's match with Higa Middle School at the start of the Nationals.
Ryoma uses Drive Cs which everyone believes to be his COOL drive, but he reveals that his COOL drive has twice the spin of Drive Cs.
However, Tanishi's Big Bang Serve allows him to win all of his service games, while Ryoma manages to win all of his, forcing a tiebreak.
It is there that Ryoma manages to return the Big Bang Serve.
Ryoma had not let on to the fact that the serve had been weakening in power as the games progressed; as such, Tanishi was unaware of his own weakness, allowing Ryoma to get a return ace.
Finally montrer the true COOL drive, Tanishi attempts to return it before it can land, however when the ball hits Tanishi's raquet the amazing spin he puts on it forces the ball to greatly hit Tanishi's face.
Ryoma takes the first win for Seigaku.
Ryoma uses Drive Cs which everyone believes to be his COOL drive, but he reveals that his COOL drive has twice the spin of Drive Cs.
However, Tanishi's Big Bang Serve allows him to win all of his service games, while Ryoma manages to win all of his, forcing a tiebreak.
It is there that Ryoma manages to return the Big Bang Serve.
Ryoma had not let on to the fact that the serve had been weakening in power as the games progressed; as such, Tanishi was unaware of his own weakness, allowing Ryoma to get a return ace.
Finally montrer the true COOL drive, Tanishi attempts to return it before it can land, however when the ball hits Tanishi's raquet the amazing spin he puts on it forces the ball to greatly hit Tanishi's face.
Ryoma takes the first win for Seigaku.
Because of the tremendous force, the rope slices the ball in half, resulting in both pieces going in different directions.
In the manga, the force of this shot is strong enough to loosen the net itself, while in the OVA, the ball simply gets cut through without even harming the net.
It was first seen during his one-point match against Kintarō Tōyama, but only the outcome of the ball was shown, not the technique itself.
Ryoma first shows how the technique is done during his match against Yukimura Seiichi, which is also when its name is revealed.
He manages to win the first game par using a blitz of techniques, but loses control of the game when fatigue sets in.
While Ryoma manages to keep steady and return Sanada's Fuu, Sanada merely responds par using Ka.
With all hope seeming lost, Ryoma manages to gain a burst of energy and begins fighting back.
Sanada is undaunted, but Ryoma manages to catch up and take the lead.
Sanada goes into the State of Self Actualization himself, determined to end the match, but Ryoma manages to win par debuting his Cool Drive.
Ryoma is a first an student at Seishun Academy ('Seigaku' for short), which he attends immediately after his arrival in Japon after formerly residing in the United States.
Although only a first an in middle school, Ryoma had already earned notoriety through winning four consecutive titles in the American Junior tennis tournaments – all in a little over a year.
Due to his nearly invincible tennis play, Ryoma has earned the label 'prodigy' par the age of twelve.
His good looks and confidence make him highly populaire with ladies, although he seems not to notice, having his focus exclusively on tennis.