Biography

12 November, 2007 | 19:11

Hey guys

We’ve decided to update this bit now for the new website. Good news for you, bad for me because I’ve got to sit down and speak to Robin again. Ha.

So, the birthday stays the same; I was born on the 15th May 1987 in Glasgow. You’ve probably read that I spent most of my early life in a little place called Dunblane in Scotland.

Still got family living up there, so it still feels like home to me. I’ve got my own place in London now; fine by me as it’s close to where I train.

I started playing tennis very early, around the age of three. I definitely remember having a mini-racquet when I was two: a bright green thing with multi-coloured strings. Probably still a decent racquet for someone like Treacle.

 

 

Here's me and Jamie in the back garden at home, looking pretty good.

We got on well most of the time, but we were kind of competitive from an early age at most things....

 

 

Don't worry, ref stepped in to stop the fight....

So, I used to knock sponge balls off the wall till my mum got fed up with it and got us a Swingball for the back garden. Swingball’s pretty good work, and we played where we could...

 

 

That's us on a beach in France, with Kelly. She was from our campsite. Hello Kelly, if you're reading...

Jamie was well into his Wimbledon stuff, but you’ll have to read the biography on his website for that…

He’s a good player too; he was one of the top players in the world at under 12 level. He was pretty much the no. 3 in Europe (under-12), behind Nadal and Gasquet. Even beat Gael Monfils in his first tournament abroad. Not bad work.

Back to me.

I’ve always been a stylish kind of guy, and I think this Bart Simpson jumper proves that....

 

I'm about six in that photo I think...

 

OK, so this is me a few years after the Bart jumper, smashing one down the line...

Not sure if you know this but I played a lot of football when I was a kid.

I think it’s really important kids have the chance to try loads of stuff, and we were lucky like that.

Glasgow Rangers were interested in me, but It was always going to be tennis for me, even though my granddad played for Hibs. I love the fact that it’s just you and your opponent on a tennis court; I guess that’s why I love boxing too.

So, six years on from the Bart Simpson jumper and I’ve finally got some clothes that look decent.

 

 

That's me in my own kit after winning the Orange Bowl in Florida.

When I was 15, I left Scotland to train at the Sanchez Casal academy in Barcelona; It was getting harder and harder to push myself at home, so it was the right move for me.

I met Carlos at Sanchez, and we’re still pretty good friends. You can learn more about him here, or read his blogs here. Spain was great for me, apart from meeting Carlos.

I guess it all started picking up when I was 17 in 2004. I won the US Open boys title when I beat Sergiy Stakhovsky.

 

 

He took it pretty well…

Me and Jamie got to the semi-finals in the doubles too. Good effort from us.

I won the BBC Young Sports Personality as well. Flew back from a tourney in Spain for that one. Remember getting to the hotel with about 30 mins to get changed, but got stuck in the bathroom. Guy from reception had to bust the lock with a knife to get me out. Quality effort.

Made it to the red carpet in the end...

Er....

 

 

...less said about the suit the better huh?

So, I got called up for the Davis Cup squad also that year. Didn’t play, but that was a good moment.

Picked up a few Backgammon lessons from Tim.

Actually turned Pro in 2005, and made my debut in Davis Cup debut, which made me the youngest guy to ever represent Great Britain.

 

 

Me and David Sherwood beat Erlich and Ram in the doubles rubber. Bit of an upset, so that felt good…

That’ll do for my biography; everything else is quite recent.

You can find out lots of other tennis info about me on the site. There’s stuff on my schedule, my results and stuff, so have a good look around.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far, and if you’re thinking of supporting me as of now, good effort from you!

Andy