British tennis sensation Oliver Tavert, set to face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court today in his Grand Slam debut, has a special request for fans to call him ‘Ollie’ and not Oliver Travert.
The 21-year-old explained his preference to the press, stating, “I usually only get called Oliver when my mum is annoyed at me, making me feel like I have done something wrong. So you know, I try to avoid it at all costs.” He made this urgent plea ahead of the biggest match of his career, aiming to avoid feeling like he’s “done something wrong” on such a momentous occasion.
Oliver’s upcoming fixture against Alcaraz
Fans could be forgiven for not knowing, as the youngster who currently ranks at world No.733 is relatively less famous when compared to his competitors. However, as per reports by the Sunday Express, the youngster remains unfazed against the most formidable challenge for any tennis player today, namely, Carlos Alcaraz, on Centre Court in front of 15,000 fans.
If the British underdog were to win this upcoming fixture, it would mark the biggest upset in Wimbledon history. However, in his interviews, ‘Ollie’ has repeatedly emphasised that he chooses to see his upcoming fixture as an ‘opportunity’ rather than just ‘experience’
“I don’t like the word ‘experience’ because I feel like then you’re just there to almost just spectate; you are not expected to win. And I’m not saying that I expect to win. But at the same time, I feel like I’ve been quietly confident this whole tournament, and it’s got me to where I am today.” Ollie told the BBC in an interview.
A big thing for me is just playing the ball, not the player,” he added.
Olliver’s record
The debutant has achieved an impressive record this year, winning 23 out of his 25 matches. This performance has placed him among the top five singles players in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships. He joins a growing list of British players, including Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley, who have opted for the American college system.
As per NCAA rules, Tarvet’s advance to the second round already guarantees him a prize money of £99,000, which would increase to £152,000 if he can beat the recent French Open winner Alcara