Winston Salem's ATP 250, a tournament that prepares for the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season that starts next Monday, already has its hero: South Korean Duckhee Lee, the first deaf player in Win an ATP match.
«People made fun of me for my disability. They told me that I shouldn't be playing, ”said the player, 212 of the world, in an interview for the official ATP media, after beating Swiss Henri Laaksonen in the first round by 7-6 (4) and 6-1.
«My message for people with hearing impairment is not to get discouraged. If you try hard, you can do anything, ”he added later at a press conference in which a volunteer worked as a translator, transferring questions in English to Soopin, Lee's girlfriend.
During the games, Lee cannot hear the phrases of the line judges or the referee, and relies on signals and gestures to obtain information that is normal for the rest of the players.
The reactions of his circuit mates did not wait any longer. «You learn a lot about how your opponent hits the ball based on the sound of the shot. If you can't hear it, you have to have incredible skill and talent, ”said American Tennys Sandgreen.
“If I had to play with the headphones on, it's incredibly difficult to increase the speed of the ball, the spin that comes out of the racket. We use our ears a lot to process all that. Obviously it is a great disadvantage, so being able to do what you are doing is a great effort, ”said Andy Murray.
Win or lose this Tuesday against the Polish Hubert Hurkacz, Lee has written a story of overcoming, a week before the big date in New York.