Week 14 - ATP Challenger 75 - Murcia, Spain (clay)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

RE: Week 14 - ATP Challenger 75 - Murcia, Spain (clay)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Final funny story of the week.

After watching Kyle on the first day, a guy and his young son came over to chat. It is not uncommon here when people don't speak the local language that they will strike up conversation with a fellow English speaker. We spoke about the match for a couple of minutes when it began to dawn on me that I wasn't exactly who they thought I was.

My suspicions were confirmed when he asked me for a picture with his son. When I asked why, he said 'you're Kyle's coach, aren't you' ? I have been mistaken for Evo's dad before, but never someone's coach LOL.

When I spilled the beans about just being a fan, we all saw the funny side of it and struck up a friendship over the next couple of days, resulting in Billy having increased the size of his fan club.

Turns out the guy and his son have fled from Russia (he didn't want to fight in "a stupid ****** war") and that his son is ranked in the Top 100 for his age group (born 2012) in the Russian Federation. They are now trying to build a new life for themselves away from Russia.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
[...]
When I spilled the beans about just being a fan, we all saw the funny side of it and struck up a friendship over the next couple of days, resulting in Billy having increased the size of his fan club.

Turns out the guy and his son have fled from Russia (he didn't want to fight in "a stupid ****** war") and that his son is ranked in the Top 100 for his age group (born 2012) in the Russian Federation. They are now trying to build a new life for themselves away from Russia.

smile The very best of luck to the young man (& his dad).

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
[...]
When I spilled the beans about just being a fan, we all saw the funny side of it and struck up a friendship over the next couple of days, resulting in Billy having increased the size of his fan club.

Turns out the guy and his son have fled from Russia (he didn't want to fight in "a stupid ****** war") and that his son is ranked in the Top 100 for his age group (born 2012) in the Russian Federation. They are now trying to build a new life for themselves away from Russia.
The very best of luck to the young man (& his dad).

He told me he is not originally from Russia but just lived there. He is from Turkmenistan. I am not convinced he wasn't just too embarrassed to admit he was Russian.

Young Marat was happy though as he got himself a picture with Carlos Alcaraz.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Saturday 8th of April 2023 06:15:47 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Ditto.

Great story, Bob.

Although sad......

All the best to the family - and everyone else affected.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Ditto.

Great story, Bob.

Although sad......

All the best to the family - and everyone else affected.

I am asking around here to try and find coaching options. La Manga and the Juan Carlos Ferrero facilities are just a bit too far to travel daily. Young Marat is playing in Mallorca in a couple of weeks in a European tournament at the Guillermo Vilas academy.