The UNIQLO Interview: Ahmet Kaplan
When Ahmet Kaplan was eight years old, he was involved in a horrific accident which saw him lose both his legs and numerous fingers after being electrocuted.
It was a scary, isolating period and, for the next few years, life was bleak. Kaplan was in a negative spiral, barely leaving the house and fearing for his future amid immense uncertainty.
Such emotions were only natural given the complexion of his life had changed beyond all recognition. In time, however, he found an inner strength and decided the past should not dictate his future.
“I lost my two legs and my fingers and some of my fingers are now not working,” Kaplan told itftennis.com. “I spent a long time in hospital after the accident – half a year – before going back home and spending a lot of time behind closed doors.
“It was very traumatic for everyone. Having an accident like that completely changed my life – all that time in hospital, I lost all my friends and my outside life. It was a really tough moment, but my family helped me get through and fight against it.
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“As time went on, I didn’t feel like this was the life I wanted to live because I had been a very active and energetic kid who loved to run around, play sport and have fun. I was so bored.
“Eventually I told myself this wasn’t me and I wasn’t the person to just sit at home not living life to the full. I decided to do something about my life, do something with it and try to make something of myself.”
Kaplan initially found wheelchair basketball which ignited something inside him, making him feel like he used to when he was just a carefree boy playing with friends. The start of his wheelchair tennis odyssey was edging closer.
“I started to play wheelchair basketball in my city and went to practice with them for a couple of months and I really liked it, but then the club had to close due to financial issues,” said Kaplan.
“My coach came to me and said he could find me a different basketball team, but he also encouraged me to try an individual sport. He mentioned wheelchair tennis and he gave me a contact and I met with my first coach and that’s how my life changed.
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“Wheelchair tennis has completely changed my life. I was not in a good place before but it has given me a career that I can pursue. It has also given me a dream to follow.
“I would urge anyone in a situation like I was to not lose hope. Try not to get bad thoughts, even though they will come, and just think ahead to the future and imagine yourself doing something. Find a passion and go for it.”
Kaplan, who was born and raised in the Turkish city of Mersin, has most certainly done that – and more. From the depths of despair, the 23-year-old is now one of the top players within the quad division on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.
His talent has really come to the fore in the last 10 months or so. In that time, he has helped Turkiye finish runners-up – their best-ever showing in the quad World Group – at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, won the biggest singles title of his career, made Paralympic history and won his first Grand Slam singles match. He also defeated 18-time Grand Slam champion Sam Schroder for the first time last month.
His Grand Slam breakthrough came at this year’s Australian Open where he defeated Australia’s Finn Broadbent to record his maiden Grand Slam singles match-win at the fourth attempt. He went on to reach the semi-finals before losing to Schroder.
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Four months earlier, Kaplan became the first Turkish player in history to reach the semi-finals of a Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event when he dispatched three-time medallist Andy Lapthorne of Great Britain.
Kaplan succumbed to eventual gold medallist Niels Vink in the semi-finals and then lost to Guy Sasson of Israel in the bronze-medal match, although Paris 2024 remains the fondest of memories.
“It has been a really special few months with all the wins and travelling – it has been my breakthrough year,” added Kaplan.
“We have been working hard for this, but I didn’t expect it to happen so fast. My favourite moment would definitely be the bronze-medal match at the Paralympic Games, playing on Court Suzanne Lenglen in Paris in front of so many people cheering loudly.”
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Kaplan was charm personified in the mixed zone at Paris 2024. For those unaware, the mixed zone is the area within a sporting venue where competing athletes meet with the media almost immediately after competing.
On occasions, the mixed zone can result in surface-level discussions as there is simply no time for a considered conversation, although sometimes the immediacy reflects the rawness of sporting endeavour.
“This is my first Paralympics and I honestly do not know what to say, I haven’t got the words,” said Kaplan after defeating Lapthorne. “It's like a dream.
“Last year, I was just an average player – honestly. But now I see my ranking going higher and I see my tennis level going higher as well. I have given everything, and I am really proud of myself.”
Kaplan has every reason to be proud. He had a dream and he in on course to realising it, and he has accomplished much since the catastrophic incident which changed everything.
“I know deep down what I went through, and this is not the end yet,” he said. “I want to keep being healthy and keep improving all aspects of my game – and win a Grand Slam.”
With the trajectory his career is currently on, that ambition is far from impossible.