THE MOST HUMBLE OF HEROES
Wheelchair tennis sensation Gordon Reid has just revelled in the year of his dreams but, as his award-winning coach explains, the once-moody teenager will always be...
FROM securing his first Grand Slam singles title Down Under to sealing his place at the top of the men’s wheelchair tennis rankings, Gordon Reid has been able to savour enough memories in 2016 to last a lifetime. But while this remarkable Scot has beaten the odds in more ways than one, there is much more to his success than 12 months of glory.
Away from the spotlight, training has been relentless. Small details of his game have been analysed, reviewed and put to the test. Thankfully, the rewards have been incredible.
As coach Karen Ross reflects on a remarkable year with her exemplary student, she reveals something that proves sport is more than just titles and fame.
‘Over the time we’ve been working together, I’m not seeing a developing tennis player — I’m seeing the development of a well-grounded person, who is able to promote the sport and encourage youngsters to sample what he has been able to do,’ says Ross, who is head of disability, performance coaching and talent with the Tennis Foundation.
Having worked with Reid for a decade, Ross knows more than most what life has been like for the 25-year-old as he finally announced himself on the world stage.
At the age of 12, Reid contracted Transverse Myelitis, which is a disease affecting the spinal cord. But that diagnosis has certainly not stopped him.
Securing the wheelchair tennis singles title at the Australian Open last January was the start of something special.
A French Open doubles crown was followed by him clinching both singles and doubles titles at Wimbledon before he triumphed at the Paralympics in Rio. A singles gold medal and doubles silver was added to his collection. Finishing the year as No1 in singles allowed Ross to reflect on the journey to the top.
The ‘grumpy’ teenager has matured into another tennis champion to join Andy and Jamie Murray as Scottish sporting superstars.
‘Our relationship has developed over time,’ Ross tells Sportsmail at the Scottish National Tennis Centre in Stirling. ‘We’ve been working together for 10 years.
‘At first, he was a typical grumpy teenager who wanted to get things right immediately. Because he had big expectations of himself, it became quite difficult to manage that. There was a bit of debate. At times, we had to stop because he was stubborn in how he wanted to do things and I was learning about him.
‘Through time, our relationship has changed. Initially, I was driving everything but now he knows what is required — and I help and support him. He tends to lead a bit more.
‘It’s more of a partnership, whereas before it was coach-pupil.’
Trying to pinpoint the exact moment where it all went right for Reid and Ross is like attempting to nail jelly to a wall.
Ross, though, reflects on the Wheelchair Masters at the end of 2015. There, she began to see she was working with a special talent who could — would — make it to the top.
‘At the Masters in December 2015, I felt he was striking the ball really well and he had a little bit more confidence,’ adds the 47-year-old. ‘Although he was ill at that event, I was pleased with where I thought he was at.
‘He was playing with a bit of conviction. You always think: “Yeah, I really want to perform well in the big events”, and he struggled a bit in the Grand Slams. He put a bit of pressure on himself because he desperately wanted to do well.
‘He started working with a sports psychologist and started to make a difference in terms of approaching the matches a bit differently.
‘We’ve always had the dreams to win Grand Slams and to be at the top of the world.
‘We set these goals early on without thinking: “Oh, we’re going to achieve them tomorrow”.
‘For the Australian Open, he had a good preparation phase and he played in the quarter-final against Shingo (Kunieda), who had been at the top of the world for a long time.
‘Gordon played an incredible match and he believed he could win. To come through that match was a confidence boost for him. He then had to consolidate that in the next round, which adds different pressure, and he came through another epic match. Then, suddenly, he’s in the final — his first final. We said to just go out and enjoy it.
‘He had broken his duck in a Grand Slam. He had to enjoy being out there and before we knew it, he won. That gave him confidence to do well again on the different surfaces.
‘He enjoys the battle and the crowd helping him to get through.’
There is, naturally, a temptation to get carried away. Continued success inevitably leads to further recognition and attention.
Reid is a mature individual. Ross knows he has the determination to seek improvement.
‘It’s not like he had ridden on the crest of a wave,’ says Ross. ‘He has a steely determination to improve. He enjoys training and he wants to make these small differences to become better.
‘If he had come back from Australia and been a bit of a wide boy, then that would have been a different issue. But no — he returned and focused on things to improve.
‘He is also enjoying the role of being an ambassador for wheelchair tennis. He does that really well.’
Being such a remarkable role model was evident when Reid made history last summer by becoming the first winner of the wheelchair singles title at Wimbledon.
Increased air time allowed his sport to be shown to a wider audience, who witnessed that achievement and his doubles triumph with playing partner Alfie Hewett.
For viewers at home, it was special. But to actually be in attendance was emotional for Ross.
‘To win Wimbledon and then double up with Alfie Hewett was incredible,’ she says.
‘I’ve never experienced such emotions as I’ve experienced this year. To watch him in front of a home crowd and watch him play the game we discussed in the manner he did was absolutely incredible.
‘Last year, he was the youngster coming through and now in 2017 he is the person everyone will be aiming to beat.’
Ross can look back on a year that has seen her gain recognition, too.
She was named Scottish Women in Sport Coach of the Year and picked up the prize for Disability Coach of the Year at sportscotland’s Coaching, Officiating and Volunteer awards.
The trophies are nice, but she admits nothing can match the sight of Reid starring on the biggest of stages.
‘I’m incredibly humbled to win awards,’ she adds. ‘For coaches, you do what you do and don’t want the recognition. You get that through your player.
‘What makes me proud most of all is to see Gordon perform on that stage and enjoying what he does to an extremely high level.
‘It’s an incredible journey we’ve been on and it makes me proud every day to see him constantly putting in the effort. He has big choices to make around family and friends and he does it because he wants to be the best.
‘It drives me to keep him at the top of the game so he can continue to live the life he is enjoying.’
Gordon Reid is sponsored by McCrea Financial Services. For more information go to www.mccreafs.co.uk/
I’m incredibly honoured to win awards but what makes me proud most of all is to see Gordon perform on that stage at a really high level DREAM TEAM: wheelchair singles No 1 Reid (left) with esteemed coach Karen Ross