ITF

the hope of one day qualifying for an ITF world event. He won four 35s tournaments in the past year in South Africa, so 35s' South Africa captain Martin Niemand selected him No. 1 singles for the squad for Miami. "I do Internet trading from home which is enough to survive and give me time to train and play," said Faria-Lopes, who despite a couple of straight-set losses, one to Australian James Fry, ranked 19th in the ITF 35s-and-over and walked around with a permanent smile. "It has been a lifelong dream of mine, a goal to play in the Worlds." Unlike Faria-Lopes, Chile's Ramirez, 35, lost his arm later in life at 27 in a motorcycle accident. He had the advantage of being an able-bodied player and tennis coach for most of his life. "I prefer to play this type of tennis more than handicapped [or adapted] events," Ramirez said via translator and doubles partner Cristobal Aristegui. "I like the challenge. One of my goals this year was to play the World tournament." Aristegui and Ramirez lost their doubles match to Brandon Blankenbaker and Nick Rainey, the dynamic duo from the sixth-seeded American squad, at Flamingo Park Tennis Centre but continued to prove an inspiration. "He motivates everyone here because there's no one here who doesn't deserve or didn't earn their way here," said Matt Hine, a member of the USA squad who watched his doubles teammates prevail over Ramirez. "It's not a gift to get on these teams." However, Ramirez, who's ranked 46th in the ITF 35s-and- over, stunned seventh-ranked Agim Kurti of Australia, 6-4 7-5, in No. 2 singles. Ramirez, who had to switch from a two-hand backhand to one-handed after the accident but makes up for it with a wicked underspin slice and deft drop shot, said: "I was a little nervous in doubles, but I felt better and was so proud of that result." Steve Bluvol, the captain of Argentina's 35s team, was left bewildered as he watched Faria-Lopes in action. "Unbelievable. His soul, his strength, his heart makes you want to give more because you have two arms,"said Bluvol. "He's here; he's not afraid, not embarrassed. He is an inspiration." Robert Manari, a local tennis fan who plays regularly at Flamingo Park, was so moved by Faria-Lopes after his loss to Spain's powerful Antonio Alcarez-Sanchez, he gave the young man a signed autograph of Roger Federer. "I gave him one of my most prized possessions and wrote respect and admiration on it," Manari said. "He's an inspiration. From now, I will never have another bad day." Alcarez-Sanchez, once ranked 622 on the ATP Tour, said he was surprised to see his one-armed opponent. "At first it's difficult you see one player without an arm but when the match starts he's like everybody else. He shows me courage," Alcarez-Sanchez said. ■ 28 ITFWorld // WINTER 2018 S E N I O R S Jeronimo Faria-Lopes of South Africa has proven an inspiration to many other competitors on the Senior circuit GONZALO RAMIREZ & JERONIMO DE FARIA-LOPES By Harvey Fialkov J E R O N I M O D E F A R I A - L O P E S WHEN GONZALO RAMIREZ AND JERONIMO DE FARIA-LOPES STROLLED THE GROUNDS WEARING THE COLOURS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE countries at October's ITF Young Seniors World Team Championship in Miami, it was hard not to notice that both are missing their left arms. Players usually acknowledge them with a shy smile, figuring they are either a coach, captain or family member of one of their team members. Then they watch them on the court with a racquet in their hand competing against able-bodied peers in the Italia Cup 35s, marvelling at their courage, passion, skill and indefatigable ability to turn adversity into normality. "When they first see me across the net they can't believe it, they're stunned," said Faria-Lopes, 37, of South Africa. "Then they see my game and how I can mix it up, attacking, defensive with spin and how every ball comes back. Back home, they call me 'Wall' or 'One-arm J'." As a six year old, Faria-Lopes was playing with a plastic jet plane at his father's factory when he reached onto a conveyor belt to retrieve it and a pulley snapped off his arm. Instead of allowing him to mope in his room, his mother, Manuela, wanted to get him back into mainstream living, and gave him a tennis racquet. She quickly noticed his excellent hand-eye coordination and love of the game. The rest is history as Faria-Lopes began playing local tournaments at 12 against able-bodied boys and never felt his disability was restrictive. Although his dreams of playing college and pro tennis did not materialise, Faria-Lopes quit his banking job four years ago to train and play full time in When they first see me across the net they can't believe it, they're stunned. G O N Z A L O R A M I R E Z I like the challenge. One of my goals this year was to play the World tournament.

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