He’s mentored by SBW, plays the flute and is a champion swimmer. Now he’s chasing his Wimbledon dream

2 months ago 29

London: James McCabe was already many things before adding “Wimbledon qualifier” to his resume.

The Sydneysider counts Sonny Bill Williams as a close friend. He was a national junior 200-metre butterfly champion, and played the flute in Sydney Town Hall and St Andrew’s Cathedral. McCabe also sang in choirs, taught himself to play guitar, and featured in orchestras, symphonic wind bands and marching bands.

James McCabe qualified for Wimbledon for the first time.

He is Australian tennis’ self-confessed “loner”, shunning socialising to do everything to turn his dream into a reality when he makes his Wimbledon debut against Hungarian Fabian Marozsan on Tuesday.

McCabe, 21, would grind from 5am to almost midnight during one chapter of his adolescence while juggling swimming, music and school at Trinity Grammar – and is now bringing that dedication to tennis.

After outlasting Chilean Tomas Barrios Vera to book his Wimbledon berth, McCabe went for a drive, turned on some classical music – including Il Pastore Svizzero, by Pietro Morlacchi – and sat “with my thoughts”.

“When you’re playing music, you’re basically looking to be perfect – but in tennis, you can’t be perfect,” McCabe said.

“You’re versing someone else, and they’re doing everything that you don’t want them to do … [whereas] when you get on stage, you’re going with the flow and know what’s going to happen, and you’re memorising 3000-4000 notes in a piece.”

No Australian fielded more pre-Wimbledon questions than McCabe, who took a moment beforehand to video the All England Club in its luscious green glory from the fifth-level balcony that overlooks court 14.

He answered every question thoughtfully, including extended pauses, and even asked to go again on one occasion to offer a better answer.

The Filipino-born world No.177 already won a round at this year’s Australian Open, and is competing with the likes of Tristan Schoolkate and Li Tu to be the next Aussie man to crack the top 100. McCabe’s dad, Irish-born Patrick, and former world No.15 Wally Masur are coaching him.

McCabe looks to Sonny Bill Williams for support during this year’s Australian Open.

“Tennis has always been my dream. Dad took me on the court when I was two-and-a-half, and I could rally the first time I picked up a racquet,” McCabe said. “Dad has the video somewhere. He thought it was a bit silly – I had a diaper on at the time.”

McCabe hates swimming so much from his competitive experience that he barely gets wet these days. He dumped that sport at 15 and made an instant impact when he began swinging a racquet again.

McCabe won the singles at the Pizzey Cup team event, then captured the singles and doubles titles in his age group at Tennis Australia’s December Showdown to stamp his ticket for the 2020 Junior Australian Open.

“[But] I dropped the racquets again, COVID hit, and I got really fat – Sonny always makes jokes about it, so I don’t really want those photos being released,” McCabe said.

“We had the UTR [tournaments] in Sydney and Brisbane during COVID, and that’s when I met Wally and basically, everything kicked off. Wally’s mentored and coached me since.”

TA granted McCabe a wildcard into last year’s Australian Open, then again this past January, but this is the first time he has qualified for a major. His first-round Wimbledon foe, Marozsan, has been ranked in the top 40 and made the round of 32 at the past two Australian Opens, so McCabe has his work cut out.

“It’s going to be a battle. I’m excited,” he said.

“I’ve just got to get my emotions in check. I’ll have [time] to go and see and explore Wimbledon, then [I will get] back into training and try to stay calm and plan and do everything I possibly can to hopefully get over the line.”

McCabe is making his mark on London’s famous grasscourts.

McCabe needed less time to give his opinion on the long-awaited Sonny Bill Williams-Paul Gallen boxing match in Sydney on July 16.

Ex-rugby superstar Williams is a long-time family friend of the McCabes, and was in his player box for his breakthrough victory at Melbourne Park in January. They FaceTime each other, and Williams sent McCabe a message of congratulations after he qualified for Wimbledon.

They even share the same manager, Khoder Nasser.

“I’m very lucky and grateful that I have Sonny Bill mentoring me and giving me all his tips,” McCabe said.

“[He might be] the greatest of all-time in his field, and the way he carries himself – his humbleness – [is rare]. Giving away your gold medal after winning the world championships [in 2015] would make anyone cry.

“The more banter, the better. Hopefully, one is on the floor, and it’s not Sonny. Sonny is always my No.1. Brother, you’ve got this – believe.”

Marc McGowan travelled to Wimbledon with the support of Tennis Australia.

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