LONDON — You’ve probably never heard of Adam Jones. Ranked 1,513th in the world, the British tennis player isn’t competing for Wimbledon glory this year. Yet, he holds one of the most crucial roles at the All England Club: warming up the stars.
Jones, a 28-year-old from Surrey, is part of Wimbledon’s elite hitting partner program, a select group of players tasked with preparing the tournament’s top seeds for their matches. While his ranking may not turn heads, his ability to replicate opponents’ playing styles makes him indispensable. "It’s not about winning," Jones says. "It’s about making sure the stars step onto Centre Court ready for battle."
The Unsung Heroes of Wimbledon
Behind every Grand Slam champion is a team of practice partners who simulate match conditions with precision. At Wimbledon, these players are chosen for their adaptability, consistency, and tactical awareness. Jones, who left a corporate job three years ago to pursue tennis full-time, embodies the role. "I traded spreadsheets for slice backhands," he jokes.
His typical day begins at 7 a.m., analyzing footage of a top player’s next opponent. By 9 a.m., he’s on Court 14, mirroring that opponent’s serve patterns and rally tempo. "If Novak’s facing a big server, I’ll bomb aces. If Iga needs a lefty warm-up, I switch grips," he explains.
The Art of Being a Human Backboard
Hitting partners must master two contradictory skills: challenging the star while avoiding burnout. Jones recalls a session with Carlos Alcaraz: "He wanted 90 minutes of brutal baseline rallies. My legs were jelly, but you can’t say no." The job’s demands include:
- Adjusting spin and pace on demand
- Mimicking specific players’ quirks (e.g., Nadal’s heavy topspin)
- Maintaining energy across multiple sessions
From Office Cubicle to Grass Courts
Jones’s journey defies convention. After graduating with a finance degree, he spent two years at an investment firm. "I’d sneak out at lunch to hit balls against a wall," he says. A chance encounter with a coach at a local club led to his first paid hitting gig. By 2022, Wimbledon’s head of player services noticed his versatility.
Now, he’s part of a 12-player team earning £200–£400 per session. While the pay pales next to tour prizes, the perks are unique:
- Access to player dining and physio
- Front-row seats to marquee matches
- Networking with agents and sponsors
"You’re the Reason I Won"
The real reward, Jones says, is feedback from players. After Emma Raducanu’s 2023 comeback win, she told him, "Your serves were faster than my opponent’s—that’s why I adjusted so well." Such moments validate his career pivot, though his parents took convincing. "They’d ask, ‘When are you getting a real job?’ Now they brag about me to their friends."
Not every interaction is glamorous. Jones once spent an hour feeding balls to a frustrated top-10 player who abruptly left without a word. "You develop thick skin. It’s not personal—they’re under insane pressure," he reflects.
The Future: Coaching or Competing?
At 28, Jones hasn’t abandoned his own playing dreams. He’s entered qualifying for lower-tier ITF events, balancing them with his Wimbledon duties. "I’ve learned more hitting with the best than I ever would grinding on the futures circuit," he admits. Some peers have transitioned into coaching—a path he’s considering.
Wimbledon’s head of player development, Sarah Wilson, praises his potential: "Adam reads the game like a coach. He’s not just a hitting partner; he’s a strategist." For now, though, his focus is on July’s tournament. "However long this lasts, I’m living the dream," he says.
As the 2024 Championships approach, Jones will again be the invisible force behind the spectacle. When a star hoists the trophy, few will recall the hours spent with a player ranked outside the top 1,000. But for Jones, that’s the point. "I’m not here for fame. I’m here to make champions."