Richard Irwin (pictured far right on the front row) talks about his tennis career highlights.
My career has brought me so many memories and such incredible stories to tell. I can look back on some moments in amazement now although at the time it was just normal. Things such as sharing a room with Jo Wilfred Tsonga (who was over 6’2 then!) at a tournament in The Azores, going out for dinner with Ana Ivanovic whilst in Brazil, chatting about girlfriends to Marcos Baghdatis and Gael Monfils in Australia, and beating Andy Murray in front of a Scottish Crowd in our only encounter!! I have trained one on one with both Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski for a week at a time and hit/played against players now known around the world including Ivo Karlovic, Gael Monfils, Andy Roddick, and Novak Djokovic.
By the age of 19 my tennis had sent me all over the world to every continent (excluding Antarctica) and I’d visited places that were like paradise, as well as others that made me want to get straight back on to the plane and go home. These places ranged from Australia to Thailand, Mexico to Brazil, Argentina to America, China to India, and Nigeria to Tunisia to name a select few!
My first lessons were in short tennis at West Hants but my own lessons began at Queen Elizabeth School in Wimborne with Craig McEwan who I’m sure at the time, didn’t realise he’d be the person who would have by far the biggest influence on my tennis!
After finishing my GCSEs, I had the tough decision of what to do next. I had minimal funding of £500 a year from the LTA but my parents, my school and Craig were 100% supportive - all of us felt it was worth going for it. This is when I started with Paul Hand in Basingstoke (now based at Southampton). Paul was fantastic and although suddenly tennis had turned in to a job now and not just a hobby, he still made every training session a pleasure to be a part of.
Career highlights for me personally were playing Junior Wimbledon as well as the Junior Australian Open. Although one of my best moments was competing in an invitation, winner takes all U 21 tournament with the top players in the country. In the final I was tied at 6-6 in the tiebreak so a sudden death point was played! 1 point for £1000. Thankfully I held my nerve better than my opponent and won! I also got to partner Pat Cash in an exhibition doubles against Mansur Bahrami and Andrew Castle.
I managed to reach highs in the Men’s game of being number 12 in Great Britain, 730 in the World for singles, and 380 in Doubles. Due to injury, I have been unable to continue playing on the professional circuit although I am still part of the Men's County Team.
I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my parents, Craig and Paul so this is a thank you to them as well for all the commitment, time and effort they‘ve put in to my tennis.
I’m now based at West Hants and Bournemouth University working with some of our promising Juniors within Dorset and the Men’s and Women’s Squad at University along with doing a part time degree! I’m thoroughly enjoying every second of it, and hoping to help them, using the experience I’ve gained from my years on the tour, and the players/coaches I have worked with, to bring them as much success as I had and more!