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By Scoop Malinowski

Status: ATP 171.

Ht: 5-11 Wt: 170

DOB: May 22, 1997 In: Tokyo, Japan

First Tennis Memory: “I just remember seeing like a tennis poster. It made me want to play tennis. The poster had Roddick, Agassi, Sampras. I saw it in Japan.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Carlos Moya. Roger Federer inspired me a lot. He’s my favorite player. He inspires me to play tennis. What he just did (winning Wimbledon) is unbelievable.”

First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: “Can’t remember. First memorable one was definitely Roger Federer, Australian Open. Practiced with him. I was fourteen. It was great. It was a warm-up with him and it was a lot of people watching. So it was kind of nerve-racking but it was great. (How did you get this opportunity?) I was just around, I was playing juniors. He needed a warm-up. Got a call from my coach. He said Roger is looking for a warm-up. I said, Yes.”

Current Car: “I can’t drive.”

Last Book Read: “I don’t read.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Won my first Challenger (in July in Winnetka, def. Ramanathan in final 76 62).”

Most Painful Moment: “Losing to Kudla 13-11 (in the third set) in Wimbledon qualies (1R).”

Funny Tennis Memory: “Well, my racquet’s flown out of my hand before. Into outside the court one time. I guess that was funny. (Serve?) Forehand. It just flew out of the tennis court. (Where?) In Thailand. Very sweaty there.”

Strangest Match: “Same one, I think. Very weird. Don’t know how it happened. Just shanked the ball. Flew out of my hand.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Taylor Fritz is pretty funny. Reilly Opelka. He’s out there. Reilly’s the funniest tennis player out there. Just the stuff that he says.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Football or basketball.”

Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: “Chris Paul. Obviously Roger Federer. I like watching Usain Bolt run too.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “Just grew up with it. Been playing tennis for so long. I just enjoy every moment. Ups and downs, yeah.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court/In The Zone: “Not quite yet. But hopefully soon I can put it together and it happens.”

Favorite Tournament: “Australian.”

Nicknames: ‘Not really.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Great character. Nice. Funny.”

Twitter: @akisantillan

Akira Santillan · US Open

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