James Story has carried the hopes of Welsh tennis on his shoulders since he was no bigger than the racquet in his hand.
But it is not a burden that weighs heavy on the 23-year-old from Cardiff, it is one he embraces, especially after a breakthrough 2024.
Fresh out of the University of South Carolina, Story won his first professional tournament in September, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) event in Monastir, Tunisia.
It helped him reach a career-best world ranking of 782 and by this time next year he hopes to break into the top 300, which would put him in a good position of entering qualifying for the Grand Slams.
“If I had been told I would be ranked where I am now in May I would probably laugh at you,” Story told BBC Sport Wales.
“Being a professional tennis player is still kind of a pinch-me moment.”
The Wales number one has set out three long-term goals.
The first is to represent Great Britain in the Davis Cup, win a medal for Wales at a Commonwealth Games and compete in tennis’ four majors: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
Story already has fond memories of Wimbledon having reached the semi-finals of the junior tournament in 2018.
The following year he was called in to help a certain Sir Andy Murray warm-up.
“I had beaten the number two seed the day before and he was due on Centre Court later that day and I got asked to hit with him,” Story recalls.
“It was surreal because on the court to our left Roger Federer was practising as well.
“There were hundreds of fans taking photos, I’ve never been so nervous and it was only practice.”
Story is quietly hopeful his current form could help him return to the All England Club for next summer’s Championships, courtesy of a wildcard.
“I’d love to be a contender one day,” Story said.
“I want to play all four [Slams] for multiple years, going around the world chasing the summers, playing in tournaments, that’s the dream.”
Hungry for more
It is of little wonder that Story found a talent for tennis, with his parents and two older siblings all sport fanatics.
“Apparently I was whacking a little plastic ball with a wooden spoon around the kitchen in my nappy,” he said.
“My Saturday mornings consisted of football, tennis and then swimming, and throughout the week there would be all sorts of things going on.
“I was around 10 or 11 when I started to tone it down and by 12 it was pretty much just tennis.”
Story started playing at David Lloyd Cardiff and Lisvane Tennis Club before progressing to a coaching programme at Cardiff Met.
At 14 he started working with Tennis Wales’ Chris Lewis, at which point Story says “it became pretty full on”, with Lewis saying “we can make something of this”.
“Chris was able to take me to an international level. There was quite a lot of travelling on the junior tour, playing in Australia, America, India – I got to see a lot of places and Chris was by my side for a lot of them.
“I played Junior Wimbledon. In 2018 I made the semi-finals of the doubles and then in 2019 I beat the number two seed in the first round and then lost.”
Story also competed at the Junior Australian Open and in the US Open qualifiers.
“I’ve had a taste of the Slams and I’m hungry for more. I really enjoyed Australia, it would be brilliant to go back, that was a wicked experience.”
Inspired by Draper and Federer
Story has no lack of inspiration having played with Jack Draper as a junior.
Draper has gone on to make the US Open semi-finals and is the current British number one.
“His success is very inspirational for me,” said Story.
“He’s done so well, obviously he has the game, but how he holds himself on the court as well is really good for British tennis.
“He’s got a lot of respect for the game, the people that have come before him and the legacy that he wants to leave behind.
“He is inspiring us all in British tennis with the results he’s been getting, he’s exciting to watch and hopefully he’ll be top 10 soon enough. It fills us with belief that it is possible and hopefully one day we’ll be able to join him up there.”
But asked who is idol was, Story said it was neither Draper nor Murray.
“Roger Federer is my hero. He was so elegant to watch, he floated around the court, but also he was such a good chess player, he was so good at competing and finding a way to win.
“He was super respectful on and off the courts, he represents tennis worldwide and will hold that title for many years to come.”
