By Pirate Irwin

PARIS, June 8, 2009 (AFP) - Japan's Paralympic tennis champion Shingo Kunieda believes that his success can serve as an inspiration to other disabled people and encourage them to take up the sport.

The 25-year-old told AFP that should Tokyo win the right to host the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics it would also improve conditions for disabled people in Japan.

Kunieda was speaking after a highly successful past fortnight which saw him win the French Open singles title to take him to a perfect record this year of 19 victories from 19 matches.

Kunieda, who won doubles gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, conceded that things weren't perfect for the handicapped in Tokyo but hosting the Olympics would only help things get better.

"I think it will be wonderful for the city of Tokyo and Japan to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016," said Kunieda, who was also named International Tennis Federation Wheelchair Tennis World Champion for a second successive year last week.

"Accessibility will be even better. It is actually good already but not perfect. It can be much better with the help of the Paralympic Games in 2016."

The right-handed Kunieda believes the sport has been boosted by his singles win in Beijing.

"After Beijing I was often on TV, many people were watching me," said Kunieda.

"So I think today many young disabled people will have a dream to play wheelchair tennis. They see that if you are the number one wheelchair tennis player you have a nice life."

Kunieda said that he had been playing a large role in the Tokyo bid especially with his insights into how the Paralympic Village should be set up based on his experiences in Athens and Beijing.

"As a Member of the Tokyo 2016 Athletes' Commission I have been advising the Tokyo 2016 Bid Committee and was involved at every stage of the Plan development process, providing insights from my experience as a Paralympic athlete.

"For example, the Paralympic Village in Beijing was much better than Athens and I explained to the Tokyo 2016 Bid Committee the good and bad points, so they can create the best Paralympic village."

Kunieda said that his experiences had helped when it came to taking the IOC Evaluation Commission around the tennis centre.

"I was responsible for introducing the IOC Evaluation Commission to the Tokyo Tennis Centre and explained to them that this is a perfect location for the tennis event at the Paralympic Games," he said.

"As I have played here many times and it is very comfortable."

As for receiving the ITF World Champion trophy for the second time, he was modest.

"I felt very proud and excited."

Tokyo - who are the only bidding city to have previously hosted the Games - are up against Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid.

The IOC will make a decision on the host city in Copenhagen in October.