‘Masters Tennis to me is like Wimbledon': Konov goes full circle
It is often interesting to look a Masters Tennis player in the eye and ask how seriously they take competing on the tour as answers vary significantly. Simon Konov is relatively new to the Masters arena, but his retort is revealing.
“For me, playing a Masters Tennis match is like a qualifying match for Wimbledon,” Konov, who was born and raised in Scotland but now resides in Antalya, Türkiye tells itftennis.com.
“I take it really seriously, train hard and get my practice sessions lined up before a tournament. My weight ballooned a little bit during lockdown so doing fitness sessions again was a huge motivation.
“I hadn’t played a competitive match for more than 10 years before jumping in at the deep end and playing my first ITF Masters tournament in April 2022. I ended up having to retire with an injured hamstring, but that event got me going.
“I have loved it and it is almost like I have gone back in time to when I played on the ITF World Tennis Tour. I have the same mindset now to the one I had when I was trying to make it as a professional.”
Much has happened since Konov called time on his bid to become a high-ranking pro and, while he continued contesting ITF World Tennis Tour events until 2011 as a travelling coach, the initial realisation that his childhood dreams would not be fulfilled hit hard.
“From there, I fell out of love with tennis for a while because my goal had always been to play professionally, but I realised it wasn’t going to happen,” he said.
Salvation came in the form of coaching after Konov started working with a friend who was pursuing her own ambitions on the ITF World Tennis Tour. It is a career which began in 2006 and continues to this day.
In 2011, Konov founded Top Tennis Training, which has evolved into one of the biggest online tennis coaching platforms and offers highly specialised training tutorials to a worldwide audience, including 371,000 YouTube subscribers.
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I really have had a life in tennis and the work I do now, it doesn’t feel like a job,” added the 37-year-old. “For me, tennis is a passion and there are a lot of good people in this sport. I have built lifelong relationships with so many.
“I am a member of this huge tennis family and while you do get that in other sports, I don’t think you get it to the same degree. You become almost a father figure to those you coach. You hope those players do well, not just in tennis but life, and you follow their journey.”
Coaching and content production are Konov’s primary income streams, and his relocation to Antalya two years ago has enabled him to take advantage of quality facilities and spend 11 months of the year on an outdoor court.
Having discovered Masters Tennis, however, the competitive juices he thought had been consigned to history have resurfaced, and he believes this has not only sharpened his own game but made him a better coach.
“Sometimes when you’re a coach, you put on your coach’s hat and forget about your own game and the fact you need to keep improving,” said Konov. “The Masters events I have played have given me a kick up the backside and provided a major boost of adrenalin.
“They have helped me to reignite my fitness training, tweak a few things with my serve and forehand as well as learn some new concepts. It has given me that passion again and you only get that from competing. There is nothing like winning on your own.
“If you’re training somebody to a high level, you have to maintain a high level yourself, otherwise it becomes impossible. So even though I am coaching somebody else, there are times I am self-correcting.
“When I film a session and analyse it with a student, I am also looking at what I did wrong. I honestly believe the best way to learn a sport and get better is to coach. I have learnt more as a coach than I ever did as a player and that’s now helping me become a better player.”
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Konov played nine ITF World Tennis Masters Tour events before breaking a rib lunging for a wide volley at MT400 – Manavgat in October 2022, which put him out of action for three months.
He was back on court in January with the intention of contesting March's ITF World Tennis Masters Tour Individual Championships in Antalya, only for personal circumstances, including moving house, to get in the way.
Nevertheless, he is now spying his next opportunity. When Konov does return to competitive action, his opponents may well have to contend with a bamboozling weapon which he has safely tucked in his locker.
“I would say my left-hand is 40 per cent of my right-handed level,” he added. “Until the age of nine, I was an ambidextrous player and could hit forehands and double-handed backhands from either side.
“When I started playing tennis again at 14 after a few years away, my coach told me that I needed to choose one, so I picked to be right-handed, but I still sometimes use my left as a joke.
“I pulled a few shot out left-handed last year and my opponent looked shocked – I just laughed. I can still pull it out of the bag when I need it.”
The ITF World Tennis Masters Tour provides opportunities for tens of thousands of players aged 30 upwards to keep their childhood love of competitive tennis alive.
With more than 500 tournaments in 75 countries worldwide, many players enjoy Masters competition domestically or by travelling to popular destinations, with players able to compete to an advanced level.
In short, Masters Tennis reflects the principles of healthy competition, camaraderie, health and fitness benefits, travel opportunities and a sense of pride and achievement.
As the global guardian of the game, the ITF’s mission for the Masters Tour is to help tennis become the world’s leading sport for tournament participation among those aged 30 and above. Konov is most certainly a convert.
“Anyone who is interested in competing, but is currently sat on the fence, should absolutely sign themselves up and play,” he said. “There is nothing like getting out there and facing your fears of competition.
“Some people play and practice, and shy away from competition. But there are all these Masters Tour events around the world – sign up, play and you will learn so much from just a match or two that can be taken away and worked on.
“You are competing with players at a similar level and you are seeing what they are trying to do to break down your game, so there is no better way to improve. If you’re thinking about it, sign up and play.”
Click here for further information on the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour or email Masters@itftennis.com with any specific enquiries.