Hady Habib: Lebanese college tennis star embracing arduous climb through pro ranks

For more than a decade, Tunisian Malek Jaziri and Egyptian Mohamed Safwat have been the leading Arab players on the men’s tennis tour, but a new protagonist has emerged from the region, looking to make his way to the top of the sport.

Lebanon’s Hady Habib only kickstarted his professional career in earnest mid-last year, after graduating from Texas A&M University in May. In his final months as an 'Aggie', Habib was the No 1-ranked college tennis player in the United States – a fitting way to close the door on one chapter of his career before starting a new one in the pros.

Since graduation, the 23-year-old Habib has picked up four ITF titles, including one at a $25k-level tournament in Sharm El Sheikh, where he defeated in the final former top-30 player Lukas Rosol, who famously beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012.

“It gives you incredible belief,” Habib told The National after clinching the trophy last Sunday. “I actually watched him a few years back play against Rafa and beat him on TV, and it's just a pleasure to play him. And winning is huge.

“His level obviously isn't at his prime right now. But still, he knows how to play and he's got experience, so it's definitely a huge win for me, giving me some good confidence for the rest of the year.”

Habib was born in Houston, Texas before moving to Lebanon with his family at the age of six. He got introduced to tennis at Mtayleb Country Club in Beirut when he was nine after dabbling in swimming and basketball.

“I just started playing tennis and I got good at it really fast,” Habib said. “I was really enjoy playing so I gave it a shot and I kept playing and that eventually turned into true love for the sport.

“My parents actually told me, ‘Is this what you want to do? Is