![]() ![]() “When my French visa finally ran out I became an illegal immigrant. “A political refugee is someone who risks being killed if they go home – I was only a tennis player, but I did not dare leave France in case they did not let me back in. Having lost three years of his career because of the Islamic fundamentalists, Bahrami then spent the next six years as a virtual prisoner in France because he refused to become a political refugee. Often, I would make one baguette last three or four days.” “For weeks at a time I had nowhere to sleep so I would walk the streets of Paris. But you have to win to collect the money,” he explained. “I chose France because there are hundreds of small tournaments with prize money. He arrived in France with his life savings, which he gambled in a casino and lost! I existed by playing backgammon all day,” he said.įinally, a friend of a friend of a friend persuaded the new foreign minister to grant Bahrami a visa to visit France. “For three years I was not allowed to hit a ball. In 1975 he made his Davis Cup debut against Roger Taylor and lost 6-0, 6-0, 6-2, but being a quick learner, either on grass or with a frying pan, he won nine of his next 11 singles matches in the competition before the Ayatollah’s henchmen banned tennis in revolutionary Iran. That’s how I learned, usually at night, barefoot, when they had drained the swimming-pool – hitting an old ball someone had thrown away against the wall of the pool with a saucepan or whatever.”īahrami was 13 when the Shah’s friends on the Iranian Tennis Federation recognised they had a teenage prodigy in their midst. A dustpan, frying-pan, broom-handle, a piece of wood. “When I was seven I would play with anything that looked like a racket. yes, I suppose my tale is a little out of the ordinary. “The frying pan, the poverty, the Ayatollah, the years of not being allowed to hit a tennis ball, sleeping rough in Paris, on the run from the police. Way back in 1997, when Bahrami was still playing Davis Cup tennis at the age of 41, he said: “So you want to hear my life story? You think they will believe this? “He plays the way we all wish we could and fans this year are going to get a real treat seeing him up close at Liverpool Cricket Club.”īahrami’s story has been told before, but is always worth repeating.Īs a child in Iran he didn’t own a real racket until he was 13 – so he taught himself to play using a rusty old metal frying pan.īut he was barred from achieving tennis greatness because the Ayatollah Khomeini who rulled Iran saw tennis as a tool of Satan. He travels the world and plays in every Grand Slam, thrilling the crowds with his circus approach to tennis in front of packed stands. “He is one of the main reasons spectators enjoys legends tennis. “Mansour Bahrami is probably next to John McEnroe as one of the most popular legends on the circuit,” he said. ![]() Tournament Director Anders Borg is equally as delighted to have him here again. THE COURT JESTER MANSOUR BAHRAMI FULL“I am honoured to be a part of this year’s tournament and I will bring my full bag of tricks to the city to try and lift the title.” “It combines everything that tennis has to offer, pitting up and coming WTA and ATP players against true legends of the game. ![]() “Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament is one of the best competitions in the UK,” he said. To the Bahrami Army he’s a showman who can can serve while holding six tennis balls in his hand, a man who can catch tennis balls in his shorts pocket while playing an improbable winner – and somebody who can smash volleys which spin crazily back across the net.Īnd he’s looking forward to showing off all his irrepressible skills and more. While Rod Laver believes him to be “the most naturally-gifted player ever to pick up a racket.” Ilie Nastase calls him a “maestro.” John McEnroe reckons he’s a genius. This is the 14th staging of the Liverpool International tennis tournament – and Mansour Bahrami has appeared in nine.īut the last appearance of the celebrated Court Jester in Liverpool was back in 2012.Īnd for a player who always charms, entertains and excites the Liverpool crowd, that’s been far too long. He´s back on centre stage on centre court – and Mersey sports fans are delighted. ![]()
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