E21 - Piet "Pietie" Norval, Olimpic Doubles Silver Medalist

In this episode I chat to Pietie Norval.

Pietie is a former tennis player from South Africa, who turned professional in 1988. The right-hander represented his native country in the doubles competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where he partnered Wayne Ferreira. The pair won the silver medal, after losing the final to Boris Becker and Michael Stich from Germany. Norval reached his highest singles ATP-ranking on 19 June 1989, when he became the no. 125 of the world in singles.

He was also very successful in doubles winning 14 career titles (Career record 329–300), and obtaining a doubles highest ranking of 16 (16 January 1995). He won the year end championship finals partnering Donald Johnson in 2000; and many other tournaments including 2 ATP Master Series. He also reached the quarter finals of all of the Grand Slams mens doubles and a semi at Wimbledon, and won the French Open mixed doubles in 1999.

In the podcast Pietie talks about his tennis journey, his career in singles and doubles; we also discuss the current state of tennis in South Africa, why South Africa produced so many talented doubles players in the past, the slowing and standardizing of all the court speeds and the difficulties of junior tennis players in South Africa.  Don't miss the mega rapid fire quiz at the end of the podcast!

Enjoy the episode!

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Ciao,

Gianluca