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Mansour Bahrami
Mansour began playing tennis at the age of 12, learning while a ballboy at the Tehran Country Club, and has never had a coach in his life. He played in Iran's Davis Cup team at the age of 16, turning professional at 17. However, in 1981 he moved to Paris after the Iranian Government closed all tennis courts. Mansour's strongest stroke is the backhand and he is an entertaining doubles specialist who is renowned for his showmanship on court. He reached a career high No. 31 in July 1987. Mansour is married to Frederique and they have two young sons, Sam and Antoine. We are pleased that he has decided to join us agin this year, after appearing at the Pro-Celebrity Event in 1998 and 2000.
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Henri Laconte
Henri is a talented left-handed player who turned pro in 1980. He has claimed nine singles titles and ten doubles titles in the course of his career, and reached a career-best of No.5 in the world in September 1986. Henri underwent back surgery to repair a herniated disc in May 1989 and this put him out of aaction for the following four months. He has one son, Maxime and one daughter, Sara Luna.
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John Lloyd
The second of three tennis-plaaying brothers, John is probably one of the most consistent players that the Uk has ever produced. He ranked in the top 100 for six years (1973-78), reaching a career high of No.21. John posted some impressive wins during this time, notably over Bjorn Borg in 1975. John led the UK to the Davis Cupo final in 1978 (lost to the US). He also excels in doubles, winning three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, including consecutive championships at Wimbledon in 1983-84. John is married to Deborah and they have two young children, Aiden and Hayley.
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Ilie Nastase
Ilie is a gifetd player who was one of the most entertaining and controversial players of his generation. He has a wide and skillful arsenal of strokes that few can match when he is on top form - he won 57 singles titles and 51 doubles titles in the Open era. However, fans were drawn to watch his antics as much as his skill, including coming onto court on crutches, using his racket as a cane, and dropping his draws! His affiliation with Adidas is one of the longest running business relationships in athletics, and he has also had a best-selling novel, 'Break Point' published. He lives in Paris and has three children.
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Zina Garrison Jackson
One of the most inspiring players in the history of women's tennis, Zina began playing at the age of 10 on the city courts of Houston, Texas. She turned professional in 1982 and first appeared at No. 29 in world rankings. Seven years later, she reached a career high No. 4 and became the first black woman since Althea Gibson to reach a Grand Slam final in 1990.One of the finest doubles players in the game's recent history, Garrison captured 20 major championships. With Pam Shriver, she earned the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal in Seoul, Korea.
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Kathy Rinaldi
Kathy Rinaldi has had an impressive tennis career, achieving top-ten world rankings in both singles and doubles. After winning eight USTA Junior National titles she turned pro in 1981, reaching the quarter final of the French Open and winning the Most Impressive Newcomer Award. She played for the Wightman Cup team in 1983, 1985 and 1986 and reached the semi finals on all of the Grand Slam events, earning career wins over Steffi Graf, Jana Novotna and Pam Shriver to name but a few. She is currently mentor to Anna Kounikova in the WTA 'Partners for Success' programme and serves on the USTA Youth Competition and Training Committee. Kathy married her High School sweetheart, Bard Stunkel in 1993 and has one son, 'Duke' Bradley.
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Jimmy Cricket
Jimmy was born in Cookstown, Northern Ireland and begun his career at the Butlins holiday camp in County Meath. He worked as Red Coat in the Summer of 1966 and developed a 'patter' act to make the customers smile at his Irish Blarney. After developing the character in Northern England Clubs, he was soon noticed by TV producers and by 1986 had his own shown, 'And There's More''. After four televsion and five radio series, Jimmy is still fine-tuning his live act, continually adding new and fresh material. When people see his name ooutside a theatre they know they can bring not only their children, but their aunts and grandads, confident in the knowledge that they're going to see a first-class show
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Alistair McGowan
After leaving The Guildhall School of music and Drama in 1989, Alistair began working as a stand-up comic, playing every club from Balham Banana to The Comedy Store. He soon became known for his excellent impressions and began working on Radio Four's 'Weekending' and then from 1992 - 1996 on 'Spitting Image' where he provided voices for Tony Blair, John Major, Chris Eubank, Prince Charles and Hugh Grant, among many others. He has since appeared on television as a comic on a long list of programmes, and has been involved in several sketch shows. This year he is enjoying huge success with his own show 'Alistair McGowan's Big Impression' for BBC which has just completed its second series.
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We've already signed up that wonderful French player, Henri Leconte as well as the man with the most tricks up his sleeve, the irrepressible Mansour Bahrami and former Wimbledon finalist, now Romanian politician, Ilie 'Nasty' Nastase. This line up alone should guarantee some pretty spicy tennis, but keep watching the website for updates on who else is joining us.
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