Mansour Bahrami has been my favourite tennis player for a long time. After growing up in Iran, and playing tennis with a broomstick handle in an empty swimming pool, he got his chance to play properly, but then just as top flight tennis was becoming an option, there was a revolution in the country. Who knows what he might have achieved if that wasn’t the case.
But as it is, he loves the sport, performing for a crowd, and would intentionally lose games to help make a match go on for longer! He’s most known for his tricks, mucking about, and general sense of fun.
He plays in the invitational doubles at Wimbledon each year (normally available on iPlayer in the second week of the tournament), and I’ve even watched him play at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013 (photo at the bottom where I queued up afterwards to meet him!).
He wrote the book in 2006, so it’s covering the first 50 years of his life, and it’s so interesting. There’s so much sadness and hardship that he’s been through, and yet, what he truly loves to do is entertain, it’s a joy. He’s now 69, and still as full of beans as he’s ever been.
I’ve found a video montage of some of his Wimbledon highlights from a couple of years ago, and listed many of the things I love about him! Please do enjoy
- When he asks the umpire for a “mister”
- When he serves with six balls in his hand
- When he indicates to his opponent where is in and where is out after they miss, or that it needs to go over the net
- When he catches a ball in his pocket
- When he slowly creeps up to the net while waiting for his opponent to serve as if they can’t see him
- When there’s a ball in his hand when the other team is serving, just incase
- When he plays from both sides of the net
- When he lets someone else (ball kid/someone from the crowd) play for him
- When he pauses a point to pose for photos mid match
- When he stands still and has the other players hit to exactly where he is
- When he spins after each hit of the ball
- When he encourages the other team with a “you can do it!”
- When he stands right up at the net waiting for service, and then lifts it as the ball comes
- When he takes the mick out of those who take forever to serve
- How much he clearly loves every minute of it
ineke.co.uk 