I’m a former Wimbledon star who became a monk – I changed my name and left everything behind
PARADORN SRICHAPHAN took time out of his tennis career to live as a monk.
The Thai star reached the world’s top ten aged just 23 in the early 2000s.
Srichaphan reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and the US Open during the 2003 season – also winning titles in Chennai and Long Island that year.
One of his wins at SW19 came against a certain Rafael Nadal, who would go on to triumph twice on the famous lawns of the All England Club – while in 2002 he knocked Andre Agassi out of Wimbledon.
In late 2005, aged 26, Srichaphan opted to spend time living as a monk – as is customary for Thai men to do so.
The tennis star, who found himself ranked No42 in the world at this point, embraced the lifestyle change – shaving his head and going by the Buddhist name Mahaviro.
Srichaphan spent long hours fasting and meditating, while also donning traditional robes.
He later admitted that this period in December 2005 gave him a greater perspective on life.
The 6ft 1in ace, now 44, spoke about the experience ahead of the following year’s Australian Open.
He said: “It was pretty interesting for me that week, my time away from tennis.
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“It was a really calm week. Everything I have — the phone, the family — I just cut it, left it behind, walked into the temple and became a monk.”
On how it changed him, he continued: “I feel like I’m more relaxed. I’m still going to play another four of five years and my goal is to try and make it back into the top 20.
“But I feel like whatever is going to happen, let it happen. If you go out there and if you try your best, that’s what counts.”
He then added: “You have to mix what you learn from the temple to be on the court. I can use that one week I spent in the temple. I can be really calm.”
Srichaphan continued to hover around the top 50 in 2006, with a run to the Indian Wells semi-finals proving to be a highlight.
He also reached the last four in Basel where he narrowly fell to home favourite Roger Federer, the same man that had beaten him in Indian Wells.
This would unfortunately mark Srichaphan’s final full year on tour, as he went on to suffer a wrist injury while playing Luis Horna in Miami in March 2007.
He intended to return to the ATP Tour, and entered the doubles event in Bangkok alongside Danai Udomchoke in 2009.
But a motorbike accident in June 2010 left him with two broken hands and a knee injury – and prompted his retirement aged 30.
After hanging up his racquet and serving as Thailand’s Davis Cup captain, Srichaphan tried his hand at another passion – golf.
In 2016 he told The Western Australian: “I love sports and I want to prolong my sporting career. That was why I decided to switch to golf.
“Everybody who plays golf falls in love with the game. It’s the same case for me.
“I have been putting in a lot of time and effort into my golf game for the past four to five years.”
After giving golf a go, Srichaphan switched his focus back to his first sporting love, launching his own tennis academy in Hua Hin, Thailand.
He has now branched out, expanding his academy to locations across Thailand and Vietnam.