Is The Prince of Tennis Manga Finished? Status Guide

Yes — The Prince of Tennis Manga Finished in 2008 After 42 Volumes

The Prince of Tennis is complete. The manga — whose original Japanese title is テニスの王子様 — was written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. It was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, a popular Japanese manga anthology magazine, from July 1999 to March 2008. Over its run, the series spanned 379 chapters collected into 42 volumes (each volume is a book that collects a group of chapters), published from January 2000 to June 2008.

All 42 volumes have been published in English by VIZ Media, the North American publisher responsible for the official English translation. That means there’s no gap or missing content if you’re reading in English. You can pick up volume 1 and read straight through to volume 42 knowing you’ll get the full story with a proper ending.

That’s one of the nicest things about picking up this series today — there’s zero waiting. No hiatuses to worry about, no “the author might come back someday” ambiguity. It’s done.

How The Prince of Tennis Ended (Spoiler-Light)

Without giving away specifics, the manga builds toward and concludes with the National Tournament storyline — the biggest stage of middle school tennis competition in Japan, and the goal Seigaku has been chasing from the very beginning.

Ryoma Echizen’s run through middle school tennis reaches a natural and satisfying endpoint here. The major rivalries that the series spent hundreds of chapters developing get their competitive resolutions on the court. If you’ve been following the tension between Seigaku and their toughest opponents, the finale delivers on those matchups.

The ending isn’t an open-ended cliffhanger. The core story wraps up. That said, the door is left open in a way that made a sequel series possible — which did happen (more on that below). But the original manga stands on its own. You won’t finish volume 42 feeling like you’ve been cheated out of a conclusion.

For a sports manga, that’s a big deal. The competitive storyline has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The tournament structure works like a ladder: first the school’s internal rankings, then the regional battles, and finally the national stage. It’s a complete journey.

Complete Set — All 42 Volumes at a Glance

Here’s a quick overview of what you’re getting into with all 42 volumes:

The series follows Ryoma Echizen after he joins the Seigaku (Seishun Academy) tennis team. The story progresses through increasingly intense tournament storylines:

• Early volumes (1–8): Ryoma establishes himself at Seigaku. Intra-school ranking matches and early tournament rounds introduce the team and their rivals. This is a great stretch to sample if you want to test whether the series is for you before committing further.
• Mid-series (roughly 9–23): The regional tournament takes center stage as Seigaku competes against schools from the wider Kantō area of Japan. This is where you meet most of the rival teams that define the series. The cast expands significantly.
• Later volumes (roughly 24–42): The National Tournament. Everything the series has been building toward. The biggest matches, the highest stakes, and the conclusion of Ryoma’s middle school tennis story.

That’s a substantial read — 42 volumes is a real commitment — but it moves quickly. Tennis matches are fast-paced, and Konomi keeps the action flowing. Most readers who tackle the series casually finish it within a few weeks, and many burn through multiple volumes in a single sitting once the tournament storylines heat up.

In English, all 42 volumes are available from VIZ Media in both print and digital formats. For digital, you can purchase volumes through the VIZ website or app, and individual chapters may also be available through the Shonen Jump digital service — a good option if you want to sample the series before buying full volumes. For print, there are no gaps or out-of-print volumes you need to hunt for, though availability of individual print volumes can vary at any given time. The English edition matches the Japanese release one-to-one.

If you’re looking for a place to start, volume 1 is the obvious entry point — and it’s a great one. You get Ryoma’s introduction, his personality, and a taste of the tennis action that defines the series. For readers ready to commit to the full run, the final volume below rounds out the complete 42-volume set.

The Sequel — New Prince of Tennis

After the original series ended in 2008, Takeshi Konomi launched a sequel: New Prince of Tennis (新テニスの王子様). This sequel has been published in Jump SQ — a monthly manga anthology magazine from the same publisher, but a different publication from the original’s Weekly Shonen Jump.

The sequel picks up after the events of the original manga. The setting shifts to a U-17 (Under-17) training camp, where Japan’s best young tennis players — including many familiar faces from the original series — compete for spots on the national representative team. The story eventually moves into international competition, which is a significant expansion of scope compared to the middle school tournaments of the original.

Here’s the key thing to understand: New Prince of Tennis is a separate manga series. If you read all 42 volumes of the original, you have a complete story. The sequel is bonus content for fans who want more — not a requirement to feel satisfied with the ending.

The sequel has its own tone, too. The U-17 camp introduces new characters and pushes the existing cast into even more over-the-top territory. If the original’s signature moves felt dramatic, the sequel escalates that energy considerably. Some fans love this; others prefer the more grounded early storylines of the original.

Multiple anime adaptations exist for both the original and the sequel, so if you prefer watching to reading — or want to experience both — there are options on that front as well.

Where to Start Reading

Start with volume 1 of The Prince of Tennis. There are no prerequisites, no side stories you need to read first, no complicated reading orders. Volume 1 introduces Ryoma, Seigaku, and the world of competitive middle school tennis in a way that’s designed for new readers.

The series is available in both print and digital from VIZ Media. Digital is convenient if you want to start immediately — you can purchase volumes through the VIZ website or app, or explore the Shonen Jump digital service for chapter-by-chapter access. Print is great if you like having physical volumes on your shelf.

Here’s a simple reading path:

• Step 1: Read The Prince of Tennis volumes 1–42 (the complete original series)
• Step 2 (optional): If you want more, pick up New Prince of Tennis for the sequel story

That’s it. No complicated reading order, no side content you need to squeeze in between volumes. The manga is straightforward.

One thing worth noting: the original series does a good job of introducing its enormous cast gradually. You won’t feel overwhelmed by names and faces early on. Konomi brings in rival teams as the tournament progresses, so you learn about each school when it becomes relevant. By the time you reach the National Tournament storyline, you’ll know exactly who everyone is and why each match matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Prince of Tennis manga the same as New Prince of Tennis?

No. These are two separate manga series by the same author, Takeshi Konomi. The Prince of Tennis is the original, complete at 42 volumes and 379 chapters. New Prince of Tennis is a sequel series that started afterward and is published in a different magazine (Jump SQ instead of Weekly Shonen Jump). They share characters and a shared story, but they’re distinct series with separate volume numbering.

How many chapters does The Prince of Tennis have?

The original manga has 379 chapters across its 42 volumes. That’s a hefty read, but the pacing is quick — especially during tournament matches, where chapters fly by.

Is the anime finished too?

The original Prince of Tennis anime ran for 178 episodes in the early 2000s, and it is complete. Anime seasons based on the sequel, New Prince of Tennis, also exist. If you’re deciding whether to watch or read, the manga covers the complete story and is a great way to experience it. The anime is a solid alternative if you prefer watching, though the manga gives you the definitive version of the ending.

Do I need to read The Prince of Tennis before New Prince of Tennis?

Strongly recommended. The sequel builds directly on the characters, rivalries, and storylines established in the original 42-volume series. You’d be lost jumping into New Prince of Tennis without that foundation — and you’d miss out on the character development that makes the sequel’s moments land. Start with the original. You’ll be glad you did.

Is 42 volumes too long?

That depends on your reading style, but here’s some perspective: 42 volumes is on the shorter side for a long-running sports manga. Many popular sports series run well over 100 volumes. And because The Prince of Tennis is a completed series, you can read at whatever pace you want without worrying about keeping up with new chapter releases. Most readers find that once the tournament storylines really get going, the volumes practically read themselves. At a casual pace, you can finish the whole series in a few weeks.