HomeTennisBenjamin Hassan: From 'Hobby Player' to Olympic Athlete

Benjamin Hassan: From ‘Hobby Player’ to Olympic Athlete

Description

The 29-12 months-old is certainly one of gamers representing Lebanon inside the Olympics.Tour Participation: Benjamin Hassan mainly competes on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Lebanon’s Historic Representation

Of the 40 international locations represented on the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s tennis event, Lebanon would be the handiest one and not using a earlier illustration inside the subject. This modified whilst Benjamin Hassan become notified that he could have the honour of turning into one of the first tennis players to symbolize Lebanon in the Olympics, along countryman Hady Habib, who faces four-time main champion Carlos Alcaraz inside the first spherical.

Olympic Opportunity

Hassan, 29, earned his spot most of the sixty four singles gamers via a ‘University Place’, which awards one spot, in both men’s and girls’s classes, to international locations that are under-represented within the Olympic Games. He will even companion with Habib in doubles. Reflecting in this possibility, Hassan said, “When I first heard it, I couldn’t agree with it. It turned into unbelievable for me as it became very spontaneous. I requested my Federation if they may test and that they informed me, ‘Look Benjamin, we are very overdue. Probably not going to exercise session.’ I idea, ‘Okay, there’s no threat, but as a minimum I attempted.’ I suppose some days earlier than the Stuttgart [ATP 250] match, I got the data. I changed into without a doubt happy.”

A Journey Rooted in Family and Heritage

To apprehend Hassan’s adventure to this point, one should revisit his past. Hassan’s father, Zaki, fled the Lebanon War inside the early Eighties and emigrated to Germany, in which he later met his wife, Fadia, who also hails from Beirut, the capital town of Lebanon. Born and raised in Germany, Benjamin additionally holds Lebanese citizenship and has proudly represented Lebanon in Davis Cup movement because 2018.

“Lebanon is a very stunning country. Very small. You have the mountains in which you could ski, you have the seashore, you may do all of it in sooner or later, a -hour force. You have perfect nightlife, top notch meals. I revel in it every time I pass there,” stated Hassan, who faces Christopher Eubanks in the commencing round of the Olympics.

Overcoming Challenges and Finding Passion

One of 10 Lebanese athletes within the Paris Olympic Games, Hassan evolved a passion for tennis alongside his father, a former Davis Cup player from the Middle Eastern usa. Despite Hassan’s early goals of a professional tennis profession, he faced challenges as a youngster, locating it tough to dedicate himself fully to the sport.

“I think from thirteen to 22, it changed into no longer in my thoughts anymore. I changed into reading in Germany, I clearly didn’t have it in my mind. I changed into a hobby player who performed as soon as per week just for amusing,” Hassan said. “When I become a youngster, I turned into not interested by becoming a expert tennis player. It just didn’t trap me. I don’t recognise what it was, but I was really now not into it. I turned into playing for a laugh with pals. I didn’t practice, didn’t do health, this kind of stuff. For that quantity of practice, I become nonetheless absolutely suitable, however far away from competing in professional tennis. Then I came returned at 22.”

Achieving Olympic Dreams

The one-time ‘interest player’ can now formally name himself an Olympian. Just a month after reaching his career-high No. 143 inside the PIF ATP Rankings, the three-time ATP Challenger Tour finalist credits the minor-league-esque level as a key stepping stone to wherein he’s today.

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