 | |
| Country (sports) |  Iran France |
|---|---|
| Residence | Paris, France |
| Born | (1956-04-26)26 April 1956 (age 68) Arak,Imperial State of Iran |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Turned pro | 1974 |
| Retired | 1995 (singles) 2003 (doubles)[N 1] |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $368,780 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 23–47 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 192 (9 May 1988) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | Q1 (1977) |
| French Open | 2R (1981) |
| Wimbledon | Q1 (1976) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 108–139 |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 31 (6 July 1987) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (1977Jan) |
| French Open | F (1989) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1988) |
| US Open | 3R (1987) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | 1R (1990) |
Mansour Bahrami (Persian:منصور بهرامی; born 26 April 1956) is anIranian-French former professionaltennis player. He isIranian withFrench nationality since 1989. While not highly successful on theATP Tour, his showmanship has made him a long-standing and popular figure in invitational tournaments.
As a child in Iran, Mansour Bahrami taught himself to play tennis using an old metal frying pan and other kitchen utensils and did not own his first tennis racquet until he was aged 13.
In his early 20s, following Iran'sIslamic Revolution in the late 1970s, tennis was viewed as acapitalist and elitist sport and therefore banned.[1] Because all tennis courts in Iran were closed down, he spent the next three years playingbackgammon daily in Tehran, until he won a local tournament with the prize of airplane flights to Athens. He paid to have the tickets changed toNice and left his girlfriend and family behind.
France offered Bahrami the opportunity to play small tournaments, but he saw that the cost of living was quite high and needed a way to maintain his finances until he could begin winning prize money. He gambled his savings in a casino in Nice and lost the lot on his first night. When his French visa ran out and without acarte de séjour (residence permit), he became a political refugee, an illegal immigrant, was constantly in fear of the police, regularly slept rough, and was forced to make food last for days. He relied on the financial support of friends until he was able to support himself.
In May 2023, he was featured onHBO’sReal Sports with Bryant Gumbel describing his early life.[2]
Mansour Bahrami reached theDavis Cup team at the age of 16.
Due to the forced break in his tennis play from the Islamic revolution fallout, his potential in singles was never fully realized. He became a successful doubles player, winning two tournaments and reaching the1989 French Open doubles final withÉric Winogradsky.[3][4]
Bahrami has been a mainstay of the seniors invitational tennis circuit for more than 25 years.[1] Bahrami is considered to have "found his niche" on theATP Champions Tour,[4] where his flamboyant, humorous style and propensity for trick shots make him a crowd favorite in the tour's more entertainment-oriented sphere. In reference to his showmanship, his 2009 English-language autobiography was titledThe Court Jester.[5] His comic turns on the court often include faking serves; slow-motion miming; hitting balls backwards between his legs, over his shoulder, or from the back; and playing while lying down, seated, or kneeling.
| Winner – Legend |
|---|
| Grand Slam (0–1) |
| Tennis Masters Cup (0–0) |
| ATP Masters Series (0–2) |
| ATP Tour (2–7) |
| Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 1986 | Chartres, France | Clay | Éric Winogradsky |  Javier FranaGustavo Guerrero | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Winner | 1. | 1986 | Neu-Ulm, West Germany | Clay |  Jaroslav Navrátil |  Menno OostingHuub van Boeckel | 7–5, 6–1 |
| Winner | 2. | 1987 | Clermont-Ferrand, France | Clay |  Claudio Mezzadri | Christophe LesageJean-Marc Piacentile | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1987 | Neu-Ulm, West Germany | Clay |  Michael Mortensen |  Jaromir BeckaUdo Riglewski | WEA |
| Winner | 3. | 1990 | Dijon, France | Carpet (i) | Rodolphe Gilbert |  Jan ApellPeter Nyborg | 7–5, 6–2 |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
