From Ball Boy To Parks Player

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi all, my name is Nader. I came to UK from Iran at the age of 14 to study and then one thing led to another and here I am living and working in Solihull some 45 years later. I am blessed with a beautiful wife, son and daughter all of whom play much better standard of tennis than me.

When did you first start playing tennis and what was your early tennis experience like?

I first started playing tennis when I was about 10 years old, following my older brother to his tournaments and acting as a ball boy. I vividly remember playing with his Dunlop Maxply racket which felt really heavy for me. Over time and with a bit of coaching, I was playing reasonably well and started entering various LTA tournaments. I played most of my tennis in various clubs around Solihull and in my younger days was consistently playing for their 2nd and 3rd teams.

What got you started in Local Tennis Leagues?

After the first lockdown and with clubs opening and shutting their doors, I was struggling to play regular tennis. One day when playing at a local park I came across a LTL poster and decided to give it a go and looking back, it was the best decision I ever made.

What are some highlights from your time with LTL?

For me the main highlight is going into battle with a total stranger not knowing how they're going to play. You can easily underestimate your opponent and thus lose to them or you can surprise yourself by beating a much better player.

What have been some of the benefits of LTL and tennis for you?

The main benefit for me was that it got me playing regular tennis again after the first lockdown against a variety of people at a fraction of the cost of playing in a tennis club. It has also improved my consistency, accuracy and mental strength through having to adjust my game against different styles of players.

What is your tennis claim to fame?

My main claim to fame is winning a pair of Wimbledon men’s final tickets in 1999 through an online competition (probably because no one else could get online then). Watching Sampras beat Agassi was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. It was made even better by the fact that the lady’s final was also arranged on this day due to it being rained off the previous day, so I also saw Lindsay Davenport beat Steffi Graff. What more can one ask for. Tennis heaven!!!

Why would you recommend LTL to others?

I thoroughly recommend LTL to anyone regardless of their level. It allows you to play regular tennis against people of all standards. One of the main benefits for me was that it improved my mental strength in a match play situation.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about?

Joining LTL is a no brainer for anyone interested in tennis. You really have nothing to lose but everything to gain. I’d also like to thank the LTL team who make all this possible behind the scenes, for their wonderful and tireless efforts.

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