As a child, Bahrami helped support his family by working as a ball boy and this is where his love of tennis developed. Unable to afford a racket of his own, Mansour improvised with frying pans, and broom handles to teach himself the game. His progress was brought to an abrupt halt when the Islamic Revolution led to the banning of professional sport in Iran, so Mansour set off for France with his life savings in his pocket, about $2,000, which he gambled in a casino and lost!

While stuck in traffic on the Champs Elysees at precisely midnight one New Year’s Eve, he wound down his window and asked the lady in the car next door “Isn’t it tradition to kiss whoever is closest to you at midnight?” – and in doing so, met his future wife, Frederique! Together they now have two sons, Sam and Antoine.

Bahrami reluctantly withdrew from the circuit in the early 90s and when the ATP Champions Tour came into being in 1993, Mansour had found his calling. He now spends over 40 weeks of the year playing in tournaments and exhibitions around the world.

In 2006 Mansour wrote his autobiography (in French) “Le Court des Miracles” and the first edition sold out within weeks. He also produced a DVD of his career (in English and French) which includes interviews, personal photographs, match highlights and the entire epic match from the Masters in 2004 featuring Becker, Leconte and Nastase. Copies of the DVD can be ordered by visiting his website – www.mansourbahrami.com.

Visit Mansour’s website for more information: www.mansourbahrami.com