Abdullah Shelbayh made tennis historical past in February. Throughout his skilled breakthrough, the 2021 Rafa Nadal Academy graduate, who performed on the University of Florida for one 12 months earlier than turning professional, has obtained encouragement and steering from some well-known names inside the sport.
The 19-year-old adopted up a run to the ultimate on the Manama Challenger (l. Kokkinakis) by touring to the ATP 250 occasion in Doha, the place he grew to become the primary Jordanian to play a Tour-level match.
“Ben Shelton texted me before the final in Bahrain. He wished me luck,” Shelbayh stated. “He’s a fantastic buddy, we have been at University for one 12 months collectively. One of my closest associates there truly. He’s doing fairly properly for himself.
“Rafa’s team texted me. His coach Carlos Moya and Uncle Toni were reaching out quite often during those two weeks. They’re always in touch when I’m at tournaments.”
At the Challenger 125 in Manama, Bahrain, the Amman native secured his first Top-100 win within the quarter-finals by taking out prime seed Jason Kubler. He didn’t cease there. In simply his third Challenger look, Shelbayh grew to become the primary Jordanian and the youngest Arab to achieve a Challenger ultimate.
“It was kind of unexpected,” Shelbayh stated. “I knew I used to be taking part in properly, higher and higher all year long. But, [in my] third Challenger, I didn’t count on to go that far within the event. Then to play towards [Thanasi] Kokkinakis within the ultimate, one of many gamers I used to look at on TV, it’s a fantastic alternative. Something you don’t actually count on. It was a giant factor for me.
“I represent my country in every tournament I play, so to be able to represent it well is an honour for me. Jordan is unfortunately not a country that’s known for tennis. I hope it becomes one of those countries someday. It’s an achievement for myself but we also didn’t have many players before me to have that opportunity.”
In August, Shelbayh was ranked No. 654 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings when he first got here onto the scene by securing his maiden Challenger main-draw victory towards prime seed Dominic Stricker on the Rafa Nadal Open. Shelbayh’s February surge helped raise him to a career-high 276.
Jordan’s Shelbayh Makes ATP Challenger Tour History At Rafa Nadal Open
Although his first Challenger main-draw win got here removed from his Jordan dwelling, it was solely becoming that it got here on the Rafa Nadal Academy, the place Shelbayh has educated since 14. How does a teen who lives distant from Mallorca find yourself coaching on the prestigious academy? Through a connection between Toni Nadal and Shelbayh’s consultant, Princess Lara Faisal, who’s a part of the royal household of Jordan. Uncle Toni flew to Jordan when Shelbayh was 13-years-old to recruit him to the island.
“They built a relationship when they were in Doha together in 2016,” Shelbayh. “Toni invited Princess Lara over to the academy. She also invited him to a festival she had in Jordan. Toni was able to come in 2017. She told him a little bit about me and he wanted to see me. When he saw me there, he very much wanted me to join the academy whenever I was ready to. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy because I was still a kid but he said, ‘Whenever you’re ready!’”
All Rafa Nadal Academy college students dream of in the future getting a chance to hit with the 22-time main champion Nadal. Shelbayh, who’s left-handed in all the pieces moreover tennis like Rafa, admitted he was somewhat starstruck when he first bought an opportunity to practise with the 92-time tour titlist, however now sees Nadal extra as a mentor and buddy.
“He always gives me tips in terms of tennis. He also always makes sure that I don’t have too many people around me,” Shelbayh stated when requested what recommendation Nadal has provided to him. “[He tells me that] you have to have a few people that you trust so you don’t get too crazy in your head of who to listen to. If you have too many people around you, they give you different [advice] and you don’t know who to listen to. Surround yourself with the right guys, it doesn’t have to be many, but if you trust them, that’s perfect.”
After pushing World No. 68 Soonwoo Kwon to 3 units on the ATP 250 in Doha, Shelbayh is hoping to construct upon his robust begin to the 12 months with hopes of competing on the three remaining Grand Slams, ending the 12 months within the Top 200, and qualifying for the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals, which showcases the season’s greatest 21-and-under gamers.
Off the court docket, Shelbayh is a family-oriented particular person. Despite being removed from dwelling, the teenager said that he calls or FaceTimes his dad and mom and three older sisters each day. In 2022, his 15-year-old brother, Zaid, joined him by transferring to the Rafa Nadal Academy.
After just some months as knowledgeable tennis participant, Shelbayh has already made historical past, competed in a Challenger ultimate, and has loved a fast rise within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Tennis followers out to keep watch over {the teenager} this season and for the years to come back.
Source web site: www.atptour.com
