After 54 defeats, Britain's worst tennis player
finally
wins his first match
Robert Dee with 54 lost matches in a row, has had to be the worst tennis player ever.
But the 21-year-old British tennis player has finally tasted victory after three long years on the lowest rungs of the professional circuit.
When Dee faced American Arzhang Derakhshani in Barcelona last Saturday he was only one defeat away from the record 55 consecutive losses.
Never once had he managed to reach the elusive second round of a tournament. But something went wrong - or rather, right - and Dee found himself claiming his first victory on the circuit with a respectable 6-4, 6-3 tally.
The Kent-born player started his spectacular losing streak in Mexico in April 2005 when he was soundly beaten in a challenger event.
Over the next three years he played all over the world - in the less than glamorous locations of Sudan, Rwanda, Senegal, Iran, Botswana and Colombia.
Then, in March, he equalled the record for the longest losing streak on the so-called futures circuit when he was beaten for the 54th consecutive time.
It was a record he is happy not to break.
"Obviously it's great to get my first win,' he said. 'I'm just going to keep on playing and improving and working hard with my coaches."
His father Alan said Dee turned professional at 18. He moved to Spain to try his luck in domestic tournaments, as well as qualifying events on the futures circuit where the standard of tennis is much higher.
His father added, "He's had some very good successes in Spain recently on the domestic tour but has been going to the futures events to build up his experience."
A spokesman for The Lawn Tennis Association said, "If you really enjoy what you do, you stick with it and that's what Robert has done."
Robert Dee stuck with what he loved doing, no matter how many times he lost, he kept on preserving. Will you look back at your life one day wishing that you had conquered more or that you had achieved your dreams? Don’t let that happen. Persevere in your Chain of Prayer and see your dreams come true. Here's what it's all about.
