“It’s all about the reality of life on tour and the lows and the highs” – Beyond the Baseline star Felix Gill on clinching his first M25 title and his feature in our new documentary series
Rising British tennis star Felix Gill recently ticked off a significant milestone in his career when he picked up his first M25 title in Zaragoza, before making it back-to-back titles at the M25 event in Santa Margherita di Pula last week.
The 21-year-old Brit, who is currently ranked world No.430, has had a steady progression through the rankings over the past few months and is motivated to close out the season in winning form. We sat down with Gill who reflected on lifting the biggest title of his career so far, his journey with the sport from his early years to current day and his experience of featuring in our brand-new docu-series, Beyond the Baseline, presented by Lexus.
“It was my biggest title yet; I’ve been in a few M25 finals and was in one the week before, so it was really nice to get over the line,” Gill said, speaking on lifting his maiden M25 title.
“It was great to not drop a set or make it too tough for myself. I think it’s easier to win when you’re winning a lot in previous weeks, and it’s definitely given me a huge bump of confidence”.
Gill is currently supported by our Pro Scholarship Programme presented by Lexus – the highest level of support offered to developing players, aged between 16 and 24, who have the best chance of reaching the ATP/WTA top 100 singles. With five ITF titles to his name across singles and doubles since 2021, its clear to see Gill is heading on an exciting upwards trajectory in his career - but it’s been a long journey to get to where he is now.
“I started playing when I was about two or three years old with a swing ball in the back garden and then I played at an after-school club where a local coach scouted me and told me to come over to the local tennis club to play.
“I did that from five to 12 years old and then I got scouted again and my coach Gary took me on through a professional route of training. I then got offered the LTA support and turned pro in 2019.
“I’d say my game is like Thomas Muster and Rafael Nadal combined - clay is my favourite surface because I like the movement. I can get the feel and learn to defend a lot better, which I can take onto the hard courts too. I took this year to progress myself on the clay court and then next year I’m sure we’ll mix it up a lot more.”
Gill is one of 10 British tennis players featuring in our docu-series, ‘Beyond the Baseline’. Set out to highlight the realities of life on the ITF and ATP/WTA Challenger Tours, Beyond the Baseline gives you an exclusive, behind-the-scenes perspective of players competing on the lower levels of the professional circuit – but what else can you expect to see?
“You’ll see a big change from when the cameras were following me in the summer - what I was putting myself through and the tough times during that period, then coming out of that amazingly. It’s a nice story of how you can come from such a low point to now winning my first M25 tournament. It’s all about the reality of life on tour and the lows and the highs.
“I think it’s a really great way of showing what it’s like on the lower level of the tour and going through the hard route and I think some fans will enjoy watching that instead of just the top level.”
The first episode of the six-part series highlights Gill’s journey through the highs and lows of life on the ITF Tour, alongside trying to breakthrough the rankings.
“It’s not been easy to stay focused and motivated all the time, especially when you don’t want to get up and go to practice but I have a lot of great people around me. I have a great sports psychologist and coaches who have understood me and kept pushing me even when things are hard. When you push through those things, I think it feels even easier and you come through with a bigger picture on things.”
As Gill looks ahead to the finish line of the 2023 season, his schedule is lined with a combination of ITF and ATP Challenger tournaments. With his sights set on clinching more M25-level tournaments and pushing deep into the Challenger Tour, Gill will be one to watch over the upcoming months and years ahead.
New episodes of Beyond the Baseline will be released every Tuesday at 16:30, with one episode being released each week until late November.