Antomi Ramos: You can't live only with beach tennis.

In this interview the first non-italian World Champion in the history of beach tennis Spanish and Canarian Antomi Ramos shares his biography, explains why he chose beach tennis among other sports and tells us about his unusual job.

When did you start to play beach tennis?

It was in Gran Canaria, when I was 14 years old. I was playing tennis and at one day went to coffee shop, where saw the advertising of beach tennis tournament. I had no idea what beach tennis is. Never heard about it before. But I loved to play tennis and as I am canarian, enjoyed to spend time on the beach. So the mix of two passions of mine sounded great. So I went to play that tournament in the lowest category in pair with my friend. And it was very nice and funny.

You also played padel?

Yes, I tried Padel a little bit earlier than beach tennis. So at the age of 16 I was stucked with playing these 3 kinds of sport: padel, beach tennis and tennis. It was difficult, as I could play normal each of them, but couldn’t adapt 100% to every of them particularly to play at the high level. My father advised me to choose the one. And it was beach tennis. I thought I could be better in beach tennis and I keen on travelling. So it was the right choice. However I still can play padel and my level even lets me to coach.

Tell us about your first international experience?

At the age of 16 I was playing tournaments on my island. These were adults events, and for the kid my age it was hard to perform among adults. So one day I’ve decided to find out my level in the world in my age category. I wanted to know how can I play against the others. And who is the best in the world. So I googled beach tennis tournaments for youngsters and found World Championship in Italy and also IFBT World Championship. I decided to play both. Reaching semifinal on the first year I became the world champion under 18 on the second year.

What was the road from “Junior World Champion” to “World Champion”?

First of all I started to travel more. Thanks to Paolo Tronci, who helped me a lot, I’ve played many tournaments around the world, got the experience. And after that he opened me many doors to other good players.

I couldn’t  find good fixed partner, so I asked different players to play different tournaments together. And by playing with each of them I also learnt lots of things.

It’ still difficult to play only beach tennis, even if you are a world champion. As I don’t have many sponsors to help me to travel and live in 1 month I should get back to work. So right now it’s about finding time to train and travel. Even trying my best we manage to do only couple of training per month with my coach Victor Martinez.

Who was your best partner so far?

It’s difficult to say. But for sure if I didn’t play with Paolo Tronci  I would never be the player I am right now.

Tell us about your job?

Well, as I said, you can’t live only by playing beach tennis. And I didn’t want to get older and have nothing behind my shoulders. So I needed to work. Many players teach beach tennis. But decided to be a flight attendant. It was in 2016, one friend of mine suggested me that I can be good at it. I am a social guy, and this is the basic philosophy of the job. And it is. I really love my job. First year was a little bit tough as I had to disappear from the tour. But now I’ve found an option to work only 50% - only 2 weeks in a month. So it’s possible to organize my travels.

Can you fly for free?

No, but I have many discounts.

What is your priority in life: sport or career?

If you ask me, who I will be in 10 years, I wouldn’t answer. I think my job is temporal. And I love beach tennis. So right now I am enjoying my life.