Luca VAN ASSCHE
Tennis player

Luca received a grant to participate in the Orange Bowl tournament in the United States.

What is your sporting background?
I started playing tennis at age four, in Aix-en-Provence. Through watching my idol and the other top players in the world play at Roland Garros and all over the world, I knew from a very young age that I wanted to become a professional tennis player. I therefore did everything I could to continue my studies at a very good level, and obviously to progress as much as possible in my sport. At the age of 12, I started to play in international tournaments (called Tennis Europe), in order to compare myself with other international players. At the age of 13, I joined the Pôle France for tennis in Poitiers for one year. In 2018, I was French and European champion. For a few years I have been participating in U18 junior tournaments and in 2020 I started to play ‘Futures’, ‘Challengers’ and ATP tournaments with professionals. During this current 2020-2021 season, I was a J1 finalist in Spain. I was also a semi-finalist in the JA at the Orange Bowl in the United States, one of the best tournaments for juniors. I participated in the final table of Roland Garros Junior, two years in advance. I was able to play Futures and Challengers tournaments and managed to earn four ATP points, which makes me the best player born in 2004 in the ATP. I was also very lucky to be able to participate in the ATP 250 in Montpellier in February.

How do you see your profession today?
My tennis career is very rewarding and allows me to practice my passion every day. I love competition. It allows me to put forward certain qualities such as surpassing oneself, concentration, perseverance and rigor. I have to travel a lot. It is an aspect of my life that I particularly like because I often discover new languages, new traditions, new cultures, which allow me to open up more to the world today.

How do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years?
In the coming years, I would like to be among the best tennis players in the world. I hope to win Grand Slams, win the Davis Cup with the French team and participate in the Olympics, including those in Paris in 2024.

This interview was conducted in 2020
Photography credit: Kamila K. Stanley