Nara started her 2014 season at the ASB Classic in New Zealand.
She made it to the quarterfinals where she lost to second seed and eventual champion Ana Ivanovic.
At the Australian Open, Nara was defeated in the third round by eighth seed Jelena Janković.

In early February, Nara competed in Fed Cup competition for Japan against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
She lost the opening singles match to María Irigoyen in three sets, and also lost the reverse singles to Paula Ormaechea in straight sets.
Later the same month, Nara won her first WTA title at the Rio Open.
She beat top seeded Klára Zakopalová in three sets in the final.
The win helped her break into the top 50 at No.
48.
At the Indian Wells Masters, Nara lost in the second round to Simona Halep in straight sets.
At the Miami Masters, she lost to 4th-seeded Maria Sharapova in straight sets in the second round.

In April, Nara again played Fed Cup, this time against the Netherlands.
She won the opening singles match against Arantxa Rus in three sets, but lost to Kiki Bertens in three sets in the reverse singles match.
Her next match was a disappointing first-round loss at the Portugal Open to qualifier Irina-Camelia Begu in the first round.
Another first-round loss came in May against Peng Shuai at the Madrid Open.
In a rematch from the Fed Cup World II tie, Nara again lost to lucky loser Paula Ormaechea in her first-round match at the Italian Open.
As the 6th seed, she lost to Yaroslava Shvedova at the Nürnberger Versicherungscup in the second round.
Lost to 6th-seed Jelena Janković in the second round at the French Open.
Entered the doubles competition with Anna Karolína Schmiedlová losing in the first round to Chan Hao-ching & Chan Yung-jan.

In June, Nara started the grass-court season at the Aegon Classic; for the second consecutive year, she lost to wildcard Johanna Konta in the first round.
Lost to Elina Svitolina in the first round at the Topshelf Open.
She played doubles with Annika Beck losing to Andreja Klepač & María Teresa Torró Flor in the first round, and lost to Venus Williams in the second round at Wimbledon.
Partnering again with Annika Beck in doubles, Nara lost to Vera Dushevina and Chanelle Scheepers in the first round.

In July, Nara as the sixth seed reached the quarterfinals losing to second-seeded Roberta Vinci at the İstanbul Cup.
Was seeded fourth but lost to Francesca Schiavone in first round at the Baku Cup.
Lost in the final against 6th-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Citi Open.
Entered the doubles partnering with Hiroko Kuwata losing to the 2nd-seeded team of Shuko Aoyama & Gabriela Dabrowski in the finals.
Was scheduled to play in the Rogers Cup but withdrew with a hip injury.
Lost to Agnieszka Radwańska in the second round of the Western & Southern Open.
Playing in her last tournament before the US Open, lost to Samantha Stosur at the Connecticut Open in opening round.
Nara as the 31st seed playing at the US Open suffered a disappointing three-set loss to Belinda Bencic in the second round.
Also she entered the doubles with Shuko Aoyama losing to Jelena Janković & Klára Koukalová in the first round.

In September, Nara withdrew from the Hong Kong Tennis Open.
Lost to eighth-seeded Carla Suárez Navarro in the first round at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Entered again with Shuko Aoyama in the doubles losing to the second-seeded team of Raquel Kops-Jones & Abigail Spears in the first round.
Suffered another first-round loss at the Wuhan Open to Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Unseeded and playing singles only at the China Open, advanced to the second round losing again to Kuznetsova.
Was scheduled to be the 4th seed at the Japan Women's Open but withdrew with a respiratory illness.
Nara started her 2014 season at the ASB Classic in New Zealand. She made it to the quarterfinals where she lost to second seed and eventual champion Ana Ivanovic. At the Australian Open, Nara was defeated in the third round by eighth seed Jelena Janković.
In early February, Nara competed in Fed Cup competition for Japan against Argentina in Buenos Aires. She lost the opening singles match to María Irigoyen in three sets, and also lost the reverse singles to Paula Ormaechea in straight sets. Later the same month, Nara won her first WTA title at the Rio Open. She beat top seeded Klára Zakopalová in three sets in the final. The win helped her break into the top 50 at No. 48. At the Indian Wells Masters, Nara lost in the second round to Simona Halep in straight sets. At the Miami Masters, she lost to 4th-seeded Maria Sharapova in straight sets in the second round.
In April, Nara again played Fed Cup, this time against the Netherlands. She won the opening singles match against Arantxa Rus in three sets, but lost to Kiki Bertens in three sets in the reverse singles match. Her next match was a disappointing first-round loss at the Portugal Open to qualifier Irina-Camelia Begu in the first round. Another first-round loss came in May against Peng Shuai at the Madrid Open. In a rematch from the Fed Cup World II tie, Nara again lost to lucky loser Paula Ormaechea in her first-round match at the Italian Open. As the 6th seed, she lost to Yaroslava Shvedova at the Nürnberger Versicherungscup in the second round. Lost to 6th-seed Jelena Janković in the second round at the French Open. Entered the doubles competition with Anna Karolína Schmiedlová losing in the first round to Chan Hao-ching & Chan Yung-jan.
In June, Nara started the grass-court season at the Aegon Classic; for the second consecutive year, she lost to wildcard Johanna Konta in the first round. Lost to Elina Svitolina in the first round at the Topshelf Open. She played doubles with Annika Beck losing to Andreja Klepač & María Teresa Torró Flor in the first round, and lost to Venus Williams in the second round at Wimbledon. Partnering again with Annika Beck in doubles, Nara lost to Vera Dushevina and Chanelle Scheepers in the first round.
In July, Nara as the sixth seed reached the quarterfinals losing to second-seeded Roberta Vinci at the İstanbul Cup. Was seeded fourth but lost to Francesca Schiavone in first round at the Baku Cup. Lost in the final against 6th-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Citi Open. Entered the doubles partnering with Hiroko Kuwata losing to the 2nd-seeded team of Shuko Aoyama & Gabriela Dabrowski in the finals. Was scheduled to play in the Rogers Cup but withdrew with a hip injury. Lost to Agnieszka Radwańska in the second round of the Western & Southern Open. Playing in her last tournament before the US Open, lost to Samantha Stosur at the Connecticut Open in opening round. Nara as the 31st seed playing at the US Open suffered a disappointing three-set loss to Belinda Bencic in the second round. Also she entered the doubles with Shuko Aoyama losing to Jelena Janković & Klára Koukalová in the first round.
In September, Nara withdrew from the Hong Kong Tennis Open. Lost to eighth-seeded Carla Suárez Navarro in the first round at the Toray Pan Pacific Open. Entered again with Shuko Aoyama in the doubles losing to the second-seeded team of Raquel Kops-Jones & Abigail Spears in the first round. Suffered another first-round loss at the Wuhan Open to Svetlana Kuznetsova. Unseeded and playing singles only at the China Open, advanced to the second round losing again to Kuznetsova. Was scheduled to be the 4th seed at the Japan Women's Open but withdrew with a respiratory illness.
Kurumi Nara