Benghazi trades ITF World Tennis Tour for the global Esports stage
Anass Benghazi may not have made it in professional tennis, but he has found a way to compete in the sport on the international scene: virtually.
The 35-year-old Frenchman was crowned champion - ahead of five other players from across the world - in the tennis competition at the Olympic Esports Series in Singapore on Saturday 24 June.
We caught up with him to discover more about his brief foray into real life tennis on the ITF World Tennis Tour, how he has since honed his skills on the virtual game ‘Tennis Clash’, and the thrill of commentating alongside Gilles Simon during the Roland Garros E-series this year.
Tell us about your tennis background?
I started playing at the age of 12 in my tennis club in my home city in Morocco because my father was playing and I always wanted to play.
You played an ITF Futures event (now known as an M15 event on the ITF World Tennis Tour) in 2006. How was that experience?
It was amazing. I used to play tournaments in Morocco, but being able to play with some really professional players, ATP-ranked and everything, was pretty exciting. It was a nice experience.
Tennis was - and remains - a huge passion for you then?
Yes, at that age, I was checking tennis a lot. I was really passionate about tennis. I still am really passionate about it, but I was checking scores in all kind of tournaments – ITF Futures at that time, Challengers, ATP, WTA. I knew of most of the players on tour!
When did you first start playing Tennis Clash?
It was at the end of 2019, just before Covid. I was always interested in tennis games. I’ve played a lot of other tennis games before - mainly on the computer and other games consoles. I saw Tennis Clash on some ad or something, and I thought I’d try it. I had another tennis game on my phone but it wasn’t really that good. This one came along, and I got hooked on it.
How do you balance your passion for Esports with other aspects of your life?
I play more on the weekend, and usually after work. During the day it’s not possible – unless I can work from home and I can play 15-20 minutes at lunchtime.
During Covid it took up a lot of my personal time because I couldn’t go out or anything, so it was okay, but then when we came back to normal life, I played a little bit less of course! I try to balance it with my personal life so it doesn’t affect it.
You took part in the Roland Garros e-series this year and ended up commentating with Gilles Simon? How was that?
That was the best part of that tournament for me. I lost in the semi-final, and right after, they asked me to commentate. Gilles Simon was there commentating for the French stream, so I of course said yes, and I commentated alongside him. It was really amazing. I was sitting next to him. He plays the game, so he understands how it works. It was nice to be able to commentate on the game, talk about it, and talk to him. I was really nervous to be sitting next to him! He was really nice. We even talked after the game, and he asked me questions about the game. It was a great experience.
What is it about tennis gaming that interests you the most?
I would say it’s the ease of being able to play tournaments and compete without having to make a lot of effort, without having to move somewhere, or to prepare. Physically, it’s not the same of course! But I still try to play real tennis as often as I can. I miss it a lot sometimes.
Back to the world of real tennis - how do you see the future of Moroccan tennis?
I’ve not been following tennis in Morocco a lot recently, but I know there are two young players right now that played – and won a round – in the recent Roland Garros junior tournament. A boy, Reda Bennani, and girl, Malak El Allami. They’re both top 50 juniors. I think they are the two hopes for Morocco for the next years. Hopefully there are more coming.
Play in the Tennis Clash event at the Olympic Eseries will begin at 17:30 local time in Singapore (10:30 GMT) on Saturday 24 June and will be streamed on the ITF Youtube channel here