Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Harris soars up ATP ranks on wings of ‘angel’
LLOYD HARRIS is an 18-yearold professional tennis player from Cape Town who has seen his ranking on the ATP Tour shoot up to 490 in a few months.
From nowhere to a top-500 player, Harris is one of the four biggest movers up the ATP ladder after winning three singles titles on the African Continent campaigning on the third-tier Futures Tour has seen.
His successes in Egypt and Zimbabwe saw him move nearly a thousand places up the rankings, earning him a place at the US Open. And while he bowed out in the first round at the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year last month, getting to play in front of a big crowd gave him a big thrill.
Now, back home in the Mother City after spending last week in Turkey playing a series of Futures, the lanky right-hander, who first picked up a racket aged two, is busy practising with his coach Anthony Harris for an upcoming Futures tournament in Stellenbosch, which starts next month.
An international line- up means coming out on top will be challenging for a youngster who came close to calling it quits brought on by the lack of funds which drained him mentally and impaired his on-court performances.
“It was close, there were times when I wondered about many things... just how I was going to make it if I didn’t have the cash. It got to me and I thought about possibly throwing in the towel,” Harris said.
“The option to go overseas and play on the US College cir- cuit was an option, but I didn’t think that lifestyle was my cup of tea, it would have taken me away from my folks who have been so supportive, and other special people who I trusted and who backed me through the good and bad times.
“So I decided to hang in and see if a lucky break would fall my way, and it happened. A lady by the name of Anthula Markovitz entered my life and she basically has gone on to change my life in a massive way.
“Thanks to her generosity, I am now free of the financial burden; all to do with that is being covered by her ‘Make a Tennis Champion’ Development Foundation, and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulder and I can now focus on my game and it has come on in leaps and bounds.
“Anthula is my guardian angel, a good Samaritan if you will. (And) can’t forget my coach, Anthony has always believed in me and never stops motivating me to be the best I can be.”
Asked about Harris, Markovitz said: “Lloyd deserves all that comes his way. He’s a young man with immense talent. Just needed a helping hand, and luckily I was able to approach friends who could help out and that’s how we came up with starting an academy at the Sea Point Tennis Club in Bantry Bay in a joint venture with Anthony, who deserves special mention for going that extra mile in nurturing young talent from across the colour spectrum, all the while digging into his back pocket to help out in any way possible.”
“So for people out there, businessmen and corporates looking to get involved in the sport that so desperately needs a lift up,” pleads Markovitz.
“Get involved and play a part in changing the lives of boys and girls who have huge talent but seldom get to realise their dreams due to reasons beyond their control.”
As for Harris’ coach, Anthony, he is sure that he has a champion on his hands.
“Lloyd turned pro this year and has gone on to win three singles titles and two in doubles,” said Harris, a former pro who started his own tennis academy three years ago.
“He’s part of the SA Davis Cup squad… and that’s just the beginning, I see a bright future for a guy who serves huge and backs it up with a wicked forehand and equally effective backhand.
“We’ve been working on his speed around the court and the mental side of things. Talent alone won’t get you anywhere, the complete package will. One has to learn to lose as well as win.
“You have to take the good with the bad. No point in saying to a youngster it’s all plain sailing ahead, it’s anything but. Hard work and utter dedication to one’s craft is half the job done, the other half is between the ears and only the players can sort that conundrum out.”
Harris has proved to be a role model for some of the members of the academy. Take Leo Matthysen and Mikaeel Woodman, two kids from Mitchells Plain who eat and sleep tennis. Already they’re making waves on the local front… and they look up to Harris as their hero.