James Ward

Father, Jim, a taxi driver. Mother, Tina. Sister, Lauren… Starting playing tennis aged 11...Plays with a double-handed backhand...Considers hard his favourite surface...Currently trains at the LTA National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, London… Spent four years training at Equelite Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy, in Vilenna near Valencia...Has worked part-time with coach Greg Rusedski, the 1997 US Open runner-up...In February 2009 at Roehampton, took part in unofficial play-off competition to earn a place in British Davis Cup team against Ukraine. One play-off match resulted in a 63 62 67(3) 26 2119 loss to Chris Eaton that lasted six hours, 40 minutes...His Spanish coach Toni Colom arranged for him to spend time in Mallorca as Rafael Nadal's hitting partner in December 2009...Fitness coach is MMA fighter Diego Visotzky...

2007 - At Valencia in April, as World No. 851 wild card entry, made his ATP singles debut losing to No. 433 Gensse 67(2) 64 63. Finished season at No. 588...

2008 - In August, won an ATP Challenger Tour doubles title (w/Goodall) at New Dehli (d. Iwami-Kondo)... 

2009 - In May, as No. 271 became the first British player since Tim Henman in 1995 to win an ATP Challenger Tour event on clay, beat Carsten Ball 76(4) 46 63 in Sarasota, FL, final... In June, he won his first ATP-level match at Eastbourne over No. 88 Crivoi 61 63, before making a 2nd RD exit to Dancevic... Went on to make his Grand Slam debut as a wild card at Wimbledon, losing to No. 8 Verdasco 61 63 64 in the 1st RD... In August, he attempted to qualify for US Open but fell in first round (l. to Levy)... Missed four months of the year due to glandular fever... Practised with Rafael Nadal in Mallorca during the off-season in December.

2010 - Qualified at Chennai in January, losing to Granollers 57 62 62 in first round....Reached first ATP World Tour QF at Eastbourne...

2011 - As a wild card entry at Queen's Club, the World No. 216 beat No.14 Wawrinka, defending champion Querrey and Mannarino en route to his first ATP World Tour SF (l. to No. 19 Tsonga)...Was watched by Prime Minister David Cameron in Mannarino match...It is the first time since 1999 Rotterdam (Henman, Rusedski) that two British players got to an ATP World Tour SF at the same event...Awarded wild card for Wimbledon...