Hassaan Khawar - Tennis San Jose - Loves the Competition!

We caught up with Hassaan Khawar out of our San Jose community.   He's built an amazing 104-3 record. So needless to say he's an excellent player.  Here's his story.

Which league are you a member of?

TennisSanJose

How long have you participated in your league?

Since May 2021, so less than a year and a half.

How did you first learn about it?

I learnt about it from a friend who joined the league a few months before I did.

How often do you play?

I try to play 3-4 times a week to keep myself physically active.

What do you like most about the league?

The thing I like most is the opportunity to meet new people and make friends who share a common passion for tennis. I also really like the fact that the matches are scheduled based on the players’ availabilities and location preferences which makes it easy to plan ahead and try to play as many matches as desired.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

My most memorable match has to be my first Finals during the 2022 Winter Season, where I played Arjun Puranik. My previous match against Arjun was an intense 3-setter in which I managed to pull away with a 6-0 win in the third set. Going into my first Finals, I was feeling a lot of nerves and knowing that I’m playing someone as talented and competitive as Arjun, it only added to that. I went on to win the match 6-1, 6-3 which surprised me as I came into the match worried that the pressure might get the best of me. Winning that match gave me a lot of confidence going forward in my tennis career because I proved to myself that I can compete and play well even in high-pressure situations.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

My favorite rivals in the league are Zeshan Anwar and Ekow Taylor. I initially picked up tennis in mid-2020 and the person I played with the most at the time was Zeshan. Zeshan is a friend that I’ve known for almost 20 years so all the matches I play against him in the league are special and give me a chance to earn some bragging rights. Ekow has been one of my greatest rivals ever since I played him first in April of 2021. In total, we’ve played 5 matches, 2 of which were in the Finals and two of which were 3-setters that went down to the wire. Whenever I play Ekow, I know I need to put my best foot forward otherwise his raw shot-making ability will leave me with no chance.

Do you have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league?

As mentioned before, I started playing tennis seriously about two years ago and have been part of the league for less than a year and a half. Form the time I played my first match in the league on June 19, 2021 to today, I’ve managed to play over 100 matches and I must have played at least 50 different opponents. I’ve made some friends along the way that now I keep in touch with even outside of the league and I hope to continue to stay a part of the league and compete for as long as I can.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing tennis after the COVID pandemic had began as many of the other sports that I enjoyed playing (i.e. basketball, soccer, cricket, etc.) were difficult to play due to the lack of social distancing in those sports. Luckily, at the time I had courts within my apartment community so it was very convenient for me to call my friend Zeshan over and play with him. A few weeks after starting to play, I had become addicted to the sport and began playing almost on a daily basis for an hour or two.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

I definitely play to compete but that doesn’t mean I forget to have fun along the way.

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

I’m not officially ranked in the NTRP rankings but I’d like to put myself in the 4.0 to 4.5 range.

What do you love about tennis?  

I love the competition about tennis. Most of the sports I played growing up were team sports and as much as I love competing in a team environment, tennis gave me a different platform where everything was dependant on how I performed on a given day. I also feel that tennis is an amazing workout without some of the high-impact or contact of sports like basketball or soccer, which can sometimes begin to take a toll on the body if played over a long period.

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

My favourite pro player is Rafael Nadal. I love his fighting spirit and his focus during a match. He plays every point like his last and those are some of the characteristics that I admire in an athlete. Naturally, I am also very competitive and when I play, I play to win. But, losing is a part of every sport and every athlete needs to lose just as graciously as he/she loses which I think Nadal displays very well.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)? (Feel free to share any interesting details about your life.)

I was born in Pakistan and I moved to Canada at the age of 5. I completed my entire education in Canada and after obtaining my undergraduate degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Waterloo, I moved to the Bay Area as a result of landing a full-time job here. Growing up, I loved playing various sports but most of all I enjoyed playing cricket. I competed at a fairly high level in cricket winning various awards at the high-school, university and city levels. I also enjoyed playing basketball a lot and I’ve been following the NBA very closely for over 10 years now. In general, I enjoy traveling, spending quality time with family and friends, and playing just about any sport.

Player Profile: Sanjeev Sridharan - 207 matches over the last 13 years

We caught up with Sanjeev Sridharan out of the Tennis-Seattle.com franchise.  He's played an amazing 207 matches since 2009 with our community.  13 Amazing Years of competitive play. Only a couple less than the admin.

What do you love about tennis?

Tennis is an individual sport and like life, how you do is only in your hands. You don't have teammates to make-up for your shortcomings. You own your success and failure. In summary, tennis is reflective of our lives.

How long have you participated in your league?

11 years. Started in tennis Boston, moved to Tennis Philly and then to tennis Seattle.

 

How did you first learn about it?

Online.

 

How often do you play?

Twice a week.

 

What do you like most about the league?

Play competitively against good players with different varieties in styles.

 

Tell us about your most memorable match(es).

Nick Sunderland in the Seattle league probably has the most # of matches, wins, and winning percentage. He holds a 10-1 record against me. My memorable match is the one time I managed to win against him in 2019. I had to save two match points and had to be completely in the zone on every point to win that match in a 10-point tiebreak in the third. 

 

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

Nick Sunderland and Dharam Patule in the Seattle league because our matches are typically competitive and even if I lose I come out with a feeling that playing them has improved my game for the better.

 

Do you have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league?

I really like that the league incentivizes players to play more. Over the years, the league has gotten more competitive with a lot of good players with different styles. It has been great to test my game against all such players. 

 How did you get started playing tennis?

My aunt introduced me to a tennis coach when I was in fifth grade in my hometown, Chennai, India.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Both. My goal is not to win but to compete well.

 

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

4.0.

  

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

Hands-down, Novak Djokovic. In my mind, he is not only the greatest tennis player of all time but the greatest athlete of all time. I have never seen any athlete with a greater mental strength than his. 

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies?

I grew up in Chennai, India. Incidentally it is a city that has a great tennis tradition. I learnt tennis between fifth and ninth grades but had a break from tenth grade till the end of grad school. I started playing again in the league in Boston before I moved for work in Philly and then to Seattle. I am a marketer. Besides tennis, I like to travel, hike, read non-fiction/biographies/autobiographies, and watch documentaries.

 

Player Profile: Jesse Pfeffer - Loves the Mental Aspect of the Game

We caught up with Jesse Pfeffer from the TennisBaltimore.com franchise and check out what he had to say:

What do you love about tennis?  

I love many things about tennis. First, the harder you work, the more you practice, the better you will become. There is no limit to how good you can become. Second, it is a very humbling game, there are three sets for a reason. You need to stay cool and collective and never let your ego get the best of you, doing so will make you lose. Don’t ever go into a match with the mentality that it is an easy win, it isn’t. Fourth, as much as it is great for your physical fitness, tennis is also a mental game and teaches you that if you put your head down you will lose but if you keep your head up and play your game you can fight through the toughest situations. Lastly, I have made numerous friends through tennis and hopefully lifelong friendships as tennis has no age limit.

Which league are you a member of?

TennisBaltimore

How long have you participated in your league?

This is my first year, second season. I played Spring Season 2 in the Skilled division.

How did you first learn about it?

A friend of mine who I hit suggested that I join.

How often do you play?

I try to play matches three (3) times a week and hit two (2) days a week.

What do you like most about the league?

Great players and great people. The ability to schedule your own matches is great too.  Have a made a lot of friends.

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

I developed a friendly rivalry with a certain player. I am 3-0 against him but every match has gone to a very close tiebreaker.

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

Chris Ozog, he has a very unorthodox game that can throw off even a seasoned player. He uses heavy spin on 50% of his shots. 

Do you have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league?

It has been a great experience so far. I like that I can play as much as I want. It has been great getting to know everyone.

How did you get started playing tennis?

I started playing tennis casually at a young age through high school. Played a bit in college. Did not start playing matches until last summer when a friend of mine suggested that I join the league.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Both, however, the competition is what drives me. I have played high level competitive sports for most of my youth. One thing about tennis is it takes a lot of work and a lot of practice to improve. That is why I try and play every day and watch film. The love for the game and the drive to improve my game fuels my competitiveness. At the same time, I play tennis because I enjoy it and because it is a fun sport. 

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

3.5 NTRP (USTA rating from the leagues I have been in)

Who are your favorite pro players? Why?

Active Player- Rafael Nadal. In my opinion he is the greatest player of all time from a pure game perspective and mentality perspective. He is an incredible athlete, and his strong mental toughness is what sets him apart as it did in the Australian Open this year. It would be so easy to throw in the towel, however he kept his head up, played his game and won three straight sets. Also, Nadal never gets angry and never smashes his racquet which are two things I admire and do as well. I think it is a complete disgrace to the game when a racquet gets smashed.

 

Retired Player- Andy Roddick.