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Status: Â ATP no. 11 ranked doubles player.
Ht: 5-11 Â Wt: 157
DOB: October 16, 1982 Â In: Capetown, South Africa
First Tennis Memory: Â “Watching my parents play league matches back home. That’s where I first saw the game being played. Every Saturday afternoon. Social League. My mom and dad used to play that. I used to be in the stroller out there.”
Tennis Inspirations: “Grew up watching Pete Sampras dominate the game. Really loved the way he played, being graceful, moving forward. My dad (Japie Jacob) has also been a big inspiration for me, always encouraging me to play.”
Last Book Read: “Lance Armstrong: It’s Not About The Bike.”
Current Car: Â “I have a Honda Civic.”
Greatest Sports Moment: Â “It was in Melbourne in 2014 (reaching the Australian Open doubles final with Eric Butorac). That was unbelievable. Hopefully someday I can make it even greater by lifting the title.”
Most Painful Moment: Â “It’s almost the same one. Losing in the final is pretty tough to take. But I think being out of the sport for two years with injury (2005-2007) – that was a tough one. To sit back and watch other guys play when you can’t is difficult for a tennis player.”
Favorite Tournament: Â “Wimbledon is my favorite, growing up that was the one that’s the same time zone as South Africa. So, growing up, the tradition and history of Wimbledon is really my big one.”
Funniest Player Encountered: Â “Dusan Vemic used to be a funny one. In getting into the ATP Tour there’s a lot of funny guys on the Challenger Tour who are playing good tennis.”
Strangest Match: Â “There’s been a couple of strange ones over the years. In Newport a few years ago I was down 5-love to Rajeev Ram on the grass and he was defending champion and I came back to win that. I didn’t know that was possible on grass. You fight for all these matches when you’re down and one time in my life it works out.”
Funny Tennis Memory: Â “You see a lot of things that happen. I remember a few year ago a guy on the Futures circuit, he was playing a match and halfway through the match he snapped and got so mad at himself. Just kind of pulled down his pants and started running around. He just lost his mind. That was crazy to see.”
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: Â “Easy – Rugby. I’m a big South African rugby supporter.”
Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: “Tiger Woods – the way he plays golf. Roger Federer. And it’s tough not to say Usain Bolt. That guy’s really exciting. It’s too bad you don’t get to see him more often.”
Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: Â “It’s the sport I’m most passionate about. I had a go at some other sports early on. My dad and I realized tennis was the only one I was willing to sacrifice my time full. It’s part of my life for so long I can’t see my life without tennis in it.”
People Qualities Most Admired: Â “I’m a big fan of loyalty. I like that one. And caring for others, trying to help other people who try to be positive and encourage others is something I enjoy.”
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Thomas Tung · May 4, 2017 at 1:58 pm
I don’t know too much about Raven, but in the few doubles matches I’ve seen with him playing, he seems to act as the “bedrock” of the team, helping to keep his partner focused. Seems like a nice guy, from your BioFile.
Thomas Tung · May 4, 2017 at 2:01 pm
Also of note: Shapovolov losing in three to a rock-steady James McGee in Savannah — it was a very good match, Denis was the more talented player, but lost a bit of concentration late in the 2nd set and in a few key moments in the 3rd. McGee played solid tennis from beginning to end, with little to no drops. If McGee played like he did 2 days ago every day, he’d be consistently in the Top 150.
Thomas Tung · May 4, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Harrison gets a freebie against DelPo as well, nice way to pick up a few free points and a slightly bigger paycheck en route to the quarterfinals:)
Scoop Malinowski · May 4, 2017 at 7:52 pm
Super nice guy TT and a great doubles player – Note RK is another sub six foot dubs standout –
Scoop Malinowski · May 4, 2017 at 7:54 pm
T2: I interviewed McGee in Sarasota about Facing Andy and what an intelligent guy he is – Wish I did a Biofile but he lost next round in singles and didn’t want to bother after a loss with a Biofile – But will try to do it later in year because surely he is a great story of dedication and perseverance – He shared excellent insights about practicing with Andy –
Scoop Malinowski · May 4, 2017 at 7:55 pm
Harrison finally gets his first wins as a husband this week – Nice lil roll for Harry again – Would be huge to get to SF and possibly F –
Andrew Miller · May 5, 2017 at 11:23 am
Dan Markowitz: MIA.
Andrew Miller · May 5, 2017 at 11:24 am
Klaasen part of Ryan Harrison resurgence when they won the wtt title last summer. He was Harrison dubs partner and not joking they fueled each other’s success. Ask Harrison.
Chazz · May 5, 2017 at 12:14 pm
Yeah Harrison benefitted from Del Potro withdrawing due to his grandfather’s death. Unfortunately for Harrison he got run over by Ferrer today.
Scoop Malinowski · May 5, 2017 at 1:36 pm
Andrew: But Harrison has not credited WTT with sparking his career turnaround – Perhaps it’s considered uncool to do that or he knows readers probably don’t really know or understand WTT so he leaves it out of his discussion about his career – But I do think WTT success could have been kind of a key part of the Harrison surge – No player ever credits WTT with any kind of praises though for helping with their careers – But I did talk with Kiki Bertens about her playing IPTL last year and how well she did there and how much she smiled on court during IPTL compared to WTA tour matches and she agreed it was a lot of fun to play and be a part of a team with other players and friends which is unlike the WTA tour which for most players is very serious and lonely –
Andrew Miller · May 5, 2017 at 3:14 pm
Scoop, Harrison seems to enjoy the wtt and got MVP honors for the league. He partnered with Klaasen whole summer. We know Harrison’s season turned around in Washington in late July, same time as he joined wtt. He got wins in both places. The proof is there including Harrison’s emotional state, but whether he credits Klaassn is Harrison’s choice. You ask me it’s obvious, his playing just improved those weeks and that was good through September, great run.
Scoop Malinowski · May 5, 2017 at 3:17 pm
I agree whether Harrison publicly credits WTT or not it was a key confidence builder for his confidence foundation and fuel tank 🙂 Harrison got drilled today by a fading Ferrer 6460 –
Andrew Miller · May 5, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Scoop Harrison in Estoril QF a miracle. Even though he won his first ATP at 15 years old in Houston on the red clay, this Portugal open is the real deal.that Ferrer destroyed him is a given! Harrison did exactly what every USA men’s player should do and show up for the euro clay season and try hard.
Andrew Miller · May 5, 2017 at 7:36 pm
Yes Scoop I think Harrison after beating Raonic in September said in his presser that he had won a lot of matches.though he didn’t say wtt one journalist outside of TP, Pete Bodo, included Harrison’s wtt playing in his write up on Harrison as being proof that he wasn’t coming from no where. I appreciated that because I always believe the origin of a big win comes from somewhere , same as the origin of a losing streak. I don’t even think Djokovic slump is because he was exhausted after the French open. More like some feeling of being invincible.
Scoop Malinowski · May 6, 2017 at 8:56 am
I asked Harrison about this in Dec and he said the Citi Open qualies in DC sparked it and playing a lot of qualies last summer gave him a lot of matches and match wins – I posted this interview in Dec or Jan and he did not mention WTT as being a factor but again that could be because it doesn’t really sound cool to give WTT credit for sparking a roll – I can’t think of any one player ever saying WTT turned their career around 🙂 But in actuality WTT could be the actual genesis of the Harrison resurgence –
Scoop Malinowski · May 6, 2017 at 9:00 am
Like you say confidence has to start from somewhere it just doesn’t spark by itself – For Djokovic hi troubles began earlier before Paris remember he had the five hour five set Davis Cup win vs Kukushkin early in the year and then the bad loss to Vesely in monte carlo or rome – then the loss to Querrey at Wimbledon was the third weird result – The Kukushkin five hour marathon in Davis Cup was the first signal that something was amiss with Djokovic – also the yelling at and mistreating/abusing his entire team at practice the day before the miami open last year while the Serena final was being played (no fans were present) was also a sign of trouble in paradise –