I got shrapnel stuck in my arm when bomb exploded next to court in Syrian civil war… now I’m making my way as tennis pro

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FOR Hazem Naw, tennis is actually a matter of life and dying.

As a result of when coaching in his homeland Syria as a youngster, a bomb fell on an adjoining court docket.

Hazem Naw is making a tennis career for himself after fleeing the Syrian civil war — Hazem Naw is making a tennis profession for himself after fleeing the Syrian civil warfareCredit score: Meierhans Fotografie / Koblenz Open 2024

He has seen his family just four times in the six years since leaving Syria — He has seen his household simply 4 instances within the six years since leaving SyriaCredit score: Hazem Naw

The war has helped Naw appreciate his loved ones more and more — The warfare has helped Naw recognize his family members an increasing number ofCredit score: Instagram @amernaw94

Naw is proud to fly the flag for SyriaCredit score: Instagram @hazem_naw

Minutes later, because the teenager took shelter along with his coach, a second landed simply 50 metres away, sending shrapnel into his arm.

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Now, he’s utilizing the terrifying reminiscences of rising up in a civil warfare to gasoline his want to make a profession in skilled tennis.

The son of a tennis coach, Naw was born on the primary day of the brand new millennium in January 2000 and grew up in Aleppo with the game at all times central.

However when the unimaginable terrors of the Syrian civil warfare broke out in 2011, merely making the 4km journey to the native tennis membership posed a really actual menace to his life.

Naw, 24, informed SunSport: “The warfare affected all Syrians. We have been scared. We simply wished to outlive.

“Financial-wise, it was horrible for us. We had issues with many issues: electrical energy, water, getting fruit and greens, regular stuff… it was powerful.

“My mom’s aunt died from a bomb. Some uncles of my father additionally died.

“It was very tough and harmful to play tennis in Syria. My brother and I have been capable of practise when the scenario was calm and we did not hear gunshots or bombs.

“We have been attempting to be very cautious to do some little bit of sport. Sport is ideal if in case you have all this stress.

“In Aleppo, the areas with the issues have been two kilometres from the place we practised so once they began taking pictures or combating, we heard every part very loud and left instantly.

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“Every single day we have been going and there was a small likelihood of one thing taking place however thank God nothing did.”

4 of the 5 tennis courts on the Aleppo membership the place Naw’s father coached have been destroyed by a bomb in 2014 – mounted greater than 5 years later as a result of there have been “many extra vital issues than repairing them” – with the opposite one broken barely however nearly nonetheless playable.

By 2015, Naw’s dad and older brother had moved to Lebanon the place they gave classes whereas he headed to Damascus to coach, along with his mom and sister staying in Aleppo.

And it was in Damascus that he skilled his stunning ordeal that would have ended his life aged 15, not to mention his tennis dream.

Naw mentioned: “I used to be practising with one of many coaches on court docket one and the primary bomb landed on court docket 5.

“We felt like a small earthquake after which moved to the place we thought was a safer place.

“Then the second bomb landed round 50-70m from the place we have been standing. A small rock chip of the bomb hit my proper taking part in arm.

“It simply acquired caught within the pores and skin, it didn’t go a lot on the within. However I needed to go to the hospital, the place they needed to clear it and tape it.”

JOURNEY TO GERMANY

Fortunately, Naw survived comparatively unscathed. However in 2018, he determined to depart Syria for Germany, the place he initially stayed along with his father’s buddy and now lives in an house in Cologne close to his brother and coach Amer.

He’s unable to return and subsequently has seen his dad and mom and sister simply 4 instances within the six years since fleeing, every time at an ITF event in Iran the place his household can go to on their Syrian passports.

Talking to SunSport from his new residence in Germany, Naw mentioned: “Household comes first at all times.

“Typically I play tennis for my household, hoping sooner or later I can deliver all of them right here and we will all dwell collectively.

“We FaceTime virtually on daily basis.

“It is at all times good to see them in Iran however each time on the airport it will get emotional.”

Naw began from zero in Germany however was helped by receiving authorities funding and his grasp of English from faculty.

Naw and his brother each gave tennis classes and learnt German.

Naw spoke to SunSport from his apartment in Germany — Naw spoke to SunSport from his house in GermanyCredit score: SunSport

Naw demonstrates how the bomb shrapnel got stuck in his arm — Naw demonstrates how the bomb shrapnel acquired caught in his armCredit score: SunSport

Naw is coached by his older brother Amer, who also lives in Cologne — Naw is coached by his older brother Amer, who additionally lives in CologneCredit score: Hazem Naw

Naw has four ITF titles to his name, most recently at Kish Island, Iran in January — Naw has 4 ITF titles to his title, most just lately at Kish Island, Iran in JanuaryCredit score: Instagram @hazem_naw

Now he’s thriving in life, linguistics and even in love – profitable matches along with his German girlfriend watching on.

In addition to starring for his membership Rot-Weiss Koln within the Bundesliga system, he has earned £40,000 in prize cash, lifted his fourth ITF title in January then secured his maiden victory in opposition to a top-100 participant.

He even turned the primary Syrian to win a main-draw match on the Challenger Tour, the extent beneath the ATP Tour.

It was a major second made all of the extra spectacular by the actual fact he had travelled in a single day to Koblenz and arrived at 4am.

The world No333, who travels with Amer, mentioned: “I’m proud to be the primary one.

“To play on your nation within the Davis Cup is a dream come true as a result of in 2009, in Aleppo, the place I grew up they hosted an occasion – Syria was taking part in and I used to be a ball child.”

Naw idolised Marat Safin and Juan Martin Del Potro as a toddler.

However his dad pressured him to cease watching tennis due to the damaging influence on his personal sport.

The warfare helped me be stronger and recognize a number of issues like household or not throwing meals away… I by no means thought I would make it this far

Hazem Naw

Naw defined: “From 5, I used to be watching lots.

“Typically I acquired offended and broke rackets as a result of Safin, my favorite, was breaking rackets on a regular basis.

“I additionally appreciated Del Potro and was at all times switching my approach.

“My father was not glad about this so for a interval I used to be not allowed to observe.”

Now with a peaceful head and settled approach, Naw is reaping the rewards as he goals to emulate his heroes by taking part in on tennis’ largest levels, one thing that appeared inconceivable amid the horrors he witnessed in Syria.

Though deeply painful, the warfare has definitely made Naw more durable on and off the court docket.

Aged nine, Naw was a ball kid at a Davis Cup event in Aleppo — Aged 9, Naw was a ball child at a Davis Cup occasion in AleppoCredit score: Hazem Naw

Naw has sorted out his technique after constantly switching to copy his idols — Naw has sorted out his approach after continuously switching to repeat his idolsCredit score: Meierhans Fotografie / Koblenz Open 2024

He had to stop watching tennis for a while after breaking too many rackets — He needed to cease watching tennis for some time after breaking too many racketsCredit score: Instagram @hazem_naw

Marat Safin was his favourite player growing up - despite the bad influence with his temper — Marat Safin was his favorite participant rising up – regardless of the dangerous affect along with his moodCredit score: AP:Related Press

He added: “The plan is to play all the large tournaments just like the Masters and the Grand Slams – not even the principle draw even simply to play the qualifying. That is my life aim.

“I’m now very shut. It’s nonetheless an enormous step, about 100 locations, however it’s nearer than ever.

“I imagine. Particularly beating a top-100 participant exhibits I’ve the extent.

“Typically I want I might do one thing else or have one other job however I solely have tennis.”

Naw concluded: “After all, this warfare will not be an excellent expertise however you must make positives.

“It helped me be stronger and extra resilient on the court docket and recognize a number of issues like being round household or not throwing meals away.

“On the time in Syria, I by no means thought I’d make it this far. We did our greatest to be who we are actually tennis-wise, personality-wise and human-wise.

“You can’t predict the longer term so it makes it sweeter if you happen to obtain new issues.”