Ahead of the Winston-Salem Open beginning, the organisers sat down with Duckhee Lee who is making history as the first deaf professional tennis player on the ATP Tour.
The South Korean at the age of 21 has won 10 Futures titles and currently sits 212th in the world. As he explains, he can only hear vibrations and must rely on hand gestures to pick up line calls and the umpire.
He spoke about appearing in North Carolina also and admitted that with it being his first main draw match he is both excited and nervous.
'I cannot really hear anything. But if someone is yelling, or screaming yes. I can hear some horns too.' he said.
'I cannot hear the ball or anyone making calls on court. I really focus on the ball and the gestures of my opponent.
'I am really excited to be here. This is my first ATP main draw match. I am excited, nervous and I will do my best.'
He added about the hot conditions that he revels in them and has even gained a nickname in the Korean media because of it.
'I do well in hot weather. My nickname in Korean media is 'Guy of the Summer'. I love the heat here.'
View the interview in full below:
https://twitter.com/WSOpen/status/1163521397714509825
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
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