Do you remember “Pim-Pim” Johansson? The hard-serving Swede was top ten at one time in the world and served a world record 51 aces against Andre Agassi in the Australian Open 2005.
“Pim-Pim” Johansson’s actual name is Joakim Johansson. He was known for his massive serve and aggressive game until injuries stopped his career. He won 3 titles and was at best 9 in the world rankings in 2014.
In time for the Australian Open 2022, Joachim Johansson answered the question about his tough match against tennis legend Andre Agassi in the 2005 Australian Open in the Betway Insider.
A great personal tennis moment
My personal experience with “Pim-Pim” was arranging a personal training session with him for my stepfather (and fellow tennis nerd!) Roger when he turned 60 in 2017. Roger absolutely loved playing with a former world number 9 and thought Joachim Johansson was a great coach and guy.
I’m not sure he is taking on personal coaching sessions anymore, but it was well worth the money and it make my day seeing Roger’s excitement about being able to hit tennis balls with a player he has watched so often on TV.
Have you ever had a great personal tennis moment? Perhaps you saw a legendary match or met true tennis legend? Maybe it was a tennis trip to a beautiful location? Or maybe something else. Let me know about your great personal tennis moment below!
My moments
I’ve been lucky to have many nice tennis moments. On the court and off the court.
Playing on grass at the home of the Mercedes Cup at Weissenhof TC is one.
Watching the ATP Finals in the front row and meeting Roger Federer afterwards, was fantastic.
Playing doubles with Toni Nadal and meeting Rafa afterwards was a great experience.
Testing Novak Djokovic’s racquet was also quite exciting.
Talking tennis during a breakfast with Prince Albert at Wimbledon 2015 was pretty cool too.
Overall, pretty much any time I’m on the tennis court is somewhat of a special moment :)
9 comments
I took a lesson from Björn Borg’s and Stefan Edberg’s former coach Percy Rosberg (a present from my wife). I absolutely loved every minute. Such a nice old man and such an excellent coach. He made me play the best I ever had (by feeding me perfect balls for my deficient technique I guess). My absolute tennis hero!!
That’s a nice one, Magnus! Your technique is good!
Thanks for sharing, Jonas. Here are my own top two.
(1) Tennis Fantasies at John Newcombe’s tennis ranch in Texas. Here’s a video from the 25th anniversary edition:
https://vimeo.com/160522255
Imagine being coached during an intensely competitive Davis Cup-style team match by John Newcombe, Roy Emerson, Fred Stolle, Owen Davidson, Charlie Pasarell, Dick Stockton, Brian Gottfried, Ross Case, Mark Woodforde, Rick Leach, Luke and Murphy Jensen, Johan Kriek, and other Legends of the Game. Or having Rod Laver give your opponent tips about how to kick your ass. How crazy is that? Many guys return year after year for one amazing week in October. I’ve attended 8 out of the past 10 editions and can’t wait until next year. It’s a brotherhood united by love of the game. A bit pricey, but absolutely priceless.
http://www.tennisfantasies.net/
(2) Winning the lottery (literally) in the Overseas Ballot for Wimbledon tickets. My wife and I totally lucked out with front row seats on Manic Monday in 2019 and got to see Federer, Nadal, and Kvitova play on Centre Court for ~$90US per ticket. Here’s the info:
https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/tickets/overseas_ballot_faqs.html
There will not be a Public Ballot (ticket lottery) for 2022, since Wimbledon is honoring the offers they made for the cancelled 2020 tournament. However, it should resume for 2023:
https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/tickets/the_wimbledon_public_ballot.html
If you’re a UK resident, there’s a separate ballot with much better odds for getting tickets.
Nice tips, Joe. That Tennis Fantasies thing sounds fun.
I remember him when he was dating Hewitt’s sister (he played with a yellow Yonex back than), serving massive, and suddenly went out of the tour with injuries
Didn’t had any close encounters with tennis stars, but I can tell you a funny one from a former coach: He went to Maurícia islands to be head coach there, at some hotel.
One day Mr Djokovic and wife went there, on holidays, and she booked a tennis class with him next day.
By the middle of it, Novak arrived, sit at the side chairs, and told her (not him) “don’t look at me, listen to him, and do what ever he tells you to do”.
He felt naturally uncomfortable at first, coaching worlds nr 1 wife, but Novak was very kind, and never behaved has a star
Saw some pics of it, he signed his (Wilson…) bag, and showed him a personal racquet in hand. He says both are very kind, and no super-star like, very normal people
Cool story!
How about when “Pim-Pim” was no. 690 in the world in 2006 and beat Nadal who was nr 2 at that moment!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOKUlOyFEog
Thanks for the content of your website and YT-channel.
/Dan
Yeah, I remember watching that on TV! Stockholm Open :)
I had a close encounter with Stan the Man once, at Estoril Open. Me and my coach were waiting for change sides so we could get in, an he was jus behind us.
My coach use to be Yonex dealer, and both were dressed full Yonex. They look at each other and smiled. Stan is not very tall, but he’s really bulky, very large torso – and red nose of course…