Pirates Tennis Club member is club champion five times
Tennis has always been a household activity for one man who is Pirates Tennis Club Champion five times.
A man who has been Pirates Tennis Club Champion five times says it is an honour to own that title. 27-year-old Stephen Mark who has represented the tennis club in Greenside well, stays in Riverclub. The BCom in Sports Management graduate also attended St John’s College for 13 years of schooling.
“I grew up in a tennis-playing household. Both my parents played tennis and I came along to the tennis club every weekend, first in my playpen and then playing when I could hold a racket. The two Andys inspired my tennis – Andy Murray for his British/Scottish heritage like me and Andy Roddick for his big booming serve,” said Mark as he shared how his love for tennis began.
Sharing his highlights so far, Mark said his two favourite times are playing tennis on St Johns College Gaudy Day (old boys day) as tennis captain against his father who had been tennis captain exactly 30 years earlier. He added that the first year he was a member of Pirates Tennis Club, he and his mum won the back draw of the Mixed Doubles Tournament.
One challenge Mark acknowledges is lack of time, “One never appreciates all the time for sport as a schoolboy or student and now I find there’s never enough time to practise due to a full time job.”
Family has been the cornerstone of Mark’s career and he expressed his gratitude to his mum, “For all those hours feeding me tennis balls to hit. My mum and dad for their constant support. And my granny in Scotland for her words of wisdom and constant interest and advice. She won many tennis tournaments herself and was in fact Ladies’ Doubles champion of her club in Scotland an amazing 25 times!”
Once he turns 30, Mark will be eligible for the various age groups of ‘veterans’ tennis and he would love to be able to represent South Africa at this stage.
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