Don Leclair is a tennis enthusiast and friend from Orlando. He discussed his amazing story on Instagram, his account is @tennis1625 …
Twenty years or so ago, I discovered a much needed passion in my life. It started with a severe case of depression in late 1996, that pushed me to give up all my worldly possessions and a failed suicide attempt. My sisters flew me to Orlando and helped me start my life over. It was tough at first but then one day my brothers asked me to watch the U.S. Open with them. Before long, I was watching every pro match I could get my hands on. In 1999, my brother and I took a trip to the Open in New York, and I knew I was hooked. Eventually I took lessons to play USTA leagues. Even earned a runner up trophy one year. These days I travel to several tournaments a year, even college matches, as a super fan of the sport. I love to photograph the players and share pics with them or anyone else who’s interested. My collection of memorabilia is extensive. I want to thank the sport of tennis for all that it’s given me. Especially for helping to fix my broken soul.
I first met Don at the Sarasota Open when it was held at the Longboat Key venue about six or seven years ago.
I kept running into him at other tournaments, like Citi Open, Delray Beach Open, Miami Open, the USTA National Campus. He’s always taking pictures and telling stories. Loves all the players and their journeys. Never has a bad word to say about anyone.
It’s people like Don that make the sport great and remind us how tennis is more uniting and positive than religion and politics.
Scoop Malinowski · May 2, 2019 at 4:19 pm
If you didn’t know, Don did his own Behind The Racquet profile of himself, inspired by Noah Rubin’s new Instagram account where pros bare their souls and reveal they tennis journeys coupled with a portrait of the player behind their racquet. @behindtheracquet on instagram, it’s a sensation and I think Don’s is the most profound example yet.
Hartt · May 3, 2019 at 9:41 am
Scoop, thanks for this interesting story.
I agree that behindtheracquet is a terrific series. Tennis10sballs.com has been reposting the pieces, and there was a recent one by Andreescu.
http://www.tennis10sballs.com/2019/04/30/noah-rubins-behind-the-racquet-%e2%80%a2-with-%e2%80%a2-wtas-bianca-andreescu-tennis-10sballs/
There was also one on Peter Polansky, but I have been unable to access it.