Wimbledon doubles champion Neal Skupski wants to inspire Liverpool’s children to pick up tennis rackets after his career.
Skupski, from south Liverpool, has won Wimbledon three times.
Twice partnered with Desirae Krawczyk in 2021 and 2022 they won the Mixed Doubles title.
Then just last year he lifted the Men’s Doubles trophy partnered with Wesley Koolhof.
The 34-year-old left Liverpool in 2008, heading to Louisiana State University before graduating in 2012.
However, he still calls Liverpool his home, splitting his time between the city and the states.
Speaking exclusively to Merseysportlive, he said: “My parent’s house was at the back of the tennis club (Palmerstone Tennis Club). My brother also played.
“We played a lot of doubles growing up before we went onto the professional circuit. He is travelling with me as a coach, he knows me better than anyone.
“It was probably my dad who got me into tennis, he played a little bit, but he has a sporting background.
“He played as a goalkeeper for the likes of Aston Villa and Stoke City. He didn’t want me to get into football.”
Despite being ranked World No.1 in 2022 and totalling 15 ATP titles in his career, Skupski is rarely credited to the level other sportspeople are in his home city.
“If you want to play for a football team, it’s cheap. Tennis is more expensive. You have to pay for the court and equipment similar to golf,” he added.
“I have success and it doesn’t get recognised much in the city. I’m used to it. Hopefully, I keep winning tournaments and get the recognition.
“I went to college in America in 2008. I went to Louisiana State and graduated in 2012, however, Liverpool has always been home – I go back and forth.
“Sometimes I train at David Lloyd in Speke, other times I’m at the Liverpool Tennis Centre in Wavertree. And when the weather allows me, I still train at Palmerston Tennis Club.”
The Liverpudlian is at the peak of his powers but is already considering his life after he hangs the racket up but still has some way to go.
And one of his plans is to get more children in Liverpool to play tennis.
“I haven’t thought about retirement at the moment.
“I still feel that I have 5 or 6 years in me, hopefully more. The world no.1 is over 40.
“I love tennis, and hopefully I can do something in Liverpool and open an academy to bring more and more junior players from Liverpool into tennis at the top level. I’d stay in tennis.”
(Featured image: Alamy Images under agreed licence)
