And I Owe It All To You
SAM REED-SULLIVAN
Four years ago, Alisha handed the keys to her kingdom over to her older sister, and she used the space to say goodbye to her tennis career. Naomi found a lot of catharsis in writing that post and then putting that part of her life to rest. She then went to Mykonos.
Today, Alisha hands the keys over to me.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will’ve noticed something.
The double-barrelled surname.
That means exactly what you think it means, and what you’ve been speculating for the last couple of days since it was unveiled on the winners board at SW19.
Getting married between Queens and Wimbledon is arguably not the smartest way to prep for a Grand Slam. But when Wyatt and I were setting up my calendar for this year, we realised something.
It wasn’t thrilling us like it used to. It wasn’t thrilling me like it used to.
Many moons ago (we were watching Naomi and Lois play together and having the time of their lives), Wyatt made me promise that the moment I wasn’t excited by tennis, I needed to tell him, and we needed to have a conversation.
We had that conversation in December.
The original suggestion was the Olympics.
I vetoed that for one simple reason.
I didn’t want to go to the Olympics and not play alongside my wife.
Which only left one option. Ending it at home.
Then I went and made a truly wild suggestion of getting married slap bang in the middle of grass court season because I wanted to play my final tournament knowing there was a chance I could get the Reed-Sullivan name on the board.
Naomi clearly agreed. My sisters, Hannah and Charlie, did a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to the wedding planning because the bride and groom were otherwise occupied. And we got married the same day the Wimbledon draw was announced.
Going out on a high, winning Wimbledon, is the dream way to end a career.
I’m very lucky I got to go out that way.
I’m also lucky that I got to do it in front of all my loved ones.
Some who have been there since the beginning and some who have entered my life along the way.
All of them crucial to my success and my sanity.
Special shout-outs go to my dad. Without him, none of this would be possible.
He was a great first coach and built the foundations of my game.
Hannah and Charlie, who taught me how to braid hair and gave me an extensive knowledge of romcoms, which came in handy.
And for keeping me humble in the group chat, whilst also letting me know they were proud of me.
Alisha Sullivan has kept me fed (as well as still keeping you informed of our tennis tour shenanigans) for the last five years. I am so glad she lacks any hand-eye coordination because it changed the course of my life.
Wyatt Sullivan has been the best friend and coach I could have asked for in the second half of my career. He reminded me how to be a person outside of tennis, and that was what I needed more than anything.
Which brings me to my final shout-out.
Naomi Reed-Sullivan.
You’re a world-class physio (thanks for being mine) and an even better partner. Doing life with you is way more fun, and I am infinitely lucky that I get to do it. Sorry about that final shot, but at least you weren’t on court with me this time.
One last thing, because the internet is hilarious.
Yes, I played with my wedding ring on for the whole tournament, but the tape thing isn’t the gotcha you think it is.
I’ve taped that part of my finger since I was fifteen.
And you seemed to miss the thing we thought was most obvious (Naomi’s been wearing her engagement ring openly around her neck since last March).
Thank you all for your support over the years, and for making tennis the best job in the world. It’s been a wild ride, and I’ve loved (almost) every minute of it. But it’s time for me to hang up my racquet.
Until next time, from somewhere in the world where the sun is shining, and my wife wants to know if I want to play a game.