The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
IT’S almost two years since Benjamin Lock turned down offers from the banking sector in order to chase his tennis dream.
When he graduated from Florida State University in 2016, Lock had several job offers coming his way but he instead chose to become a professional tennis player. The Zimbabwean Davis Cup player, who celebrated his 25th birthday on March 4, was ranked 430 in the singles and 350 in doubles when he turned pro in June 2016.
Today his singles ranking is 498 while in doubles he is 239.
Did he make the right call?
“I’m never fully content with where I am in my career as I’m always pushing to improve my game and climb higher in the ranks but yes I believe I made the correct decision,” said Lock who is currently in Egypt for a Futures Tournament. “The good thing about this sport is that it only takes one good week at the right tournament and all of a sudden your world can change.”
A year older now, Lock believes he is getting into his physical prime and wants to make the most of it.
“Tennis is a sport that keeps getting older as the average age inside the top 100 for singles is 28 and even older for doubles.
The biggest thing I have learnt on tour is that there are peaks and valleys, highs and lows, good and bad. Progression on the tour is not easy and takes time. The important things for me are perseverance and keeping the end goal in your mind at all times.”
Lock lights up when talk about the Davis Cup crops up.
After roasting Turkey 3-1 in February, Zimbabwe will play away to Poland on April 7-8.
“It is my favourite event of the year and most of the time I play my best tennis during that week,” he said. “Poland have a strong team, they have the number one doubles player (Lukasz Kubot) in the world so that will be very exciting for us.
“I would have loved it to be as home tie but am inspired to know that there are Zimbabweans who will fly out to Poland to support us.
As a Team, we are very excited and after beating Turkey we believe we can also beat Poland.”
