On court

• lived close to his local tennis club, which is how he took an interest in the sport at age seven
• one day he hopes to play at the Los Angeles Open because it’s been a long-term goal since he was a ball-kid for Pat Rafter at age 13
• also hopes to compete in his favourite tournament, the Australian Open and represent his country
• has a strong serve-volley game
• believes that he needs to improve his confidence when things aren’t going his way on court

Off court

• born in Los Angeles, but grew up in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburb of Noble Park
• has two older siblings; brother Ali, 32, and sister Sepi, 34; parents Reza and Fatemeh are both retired