James Story, the promising Bath University tennis player, faced a tough challenge in his Wimbledon qualifying debut, falling 6-0, 6-2 to Chile’s Tomas Barrios Vera. The Cardiff-born athlete’s first Grand Slam experience on the grass courts lasted just under an hour, but despite the disappointment, he remains motivated to learn and improve.
“It was a bit of an embarrassing match,” admitted the 24-year-old. “I let the occasion get the better of me. I wasn’t playing with my true personality, which made the match feel much tougher. But I’m determined to come back and perform better.”
Story struggled early in the match, managing just nine points in the first set, but showed signs of recovery in the second, earning some valuable points. Though he couldn’t push the match to a decider, the experience has given him vital insight.
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“I have a lot to learn from this,” he said. “It was a big shock to the system, but I’m focusing on the positives and what I can take away. Having family and friends in the crowd made it special, win or lose.”
Reflecting on his progress, Story noted, “Looking back a year or two, I never imagined I’d be competing here. Winning the pre-qualifying and making my Grand Slam debut means more to me than the match result.”
With resilience and determination, James Story is ready to build on this milestone and aim for future success at Wimbledon and beyond.