Interview'I'll get told the score of Liverpool games when I'm on court'
Tennis player and Scouser Neal Skupski has revealed the lengths he'll go to remain fully up to date with ongoings at Liverpool.
The two-time Wimbledon mixed doubles champion was born in the city and has kept the Reds close to his heart during a career that continues to take him all over the world.
Liverpoolfc.com caught up with Skupski when he was at Anfield on Tuesday evening for the Champions League victory over Rangers – read on for our interview with him…
You travel all around the world with tennis but you're still a massive Liverpool fan...
Obviously I'm travelling quite a bit with tennis but Liverpool is still my home and I'm still living here. I wish I could get to the games more often. I've been playing tennis for a long time. I probably started playing tennis when I was three but you're playing tournaments from an early age, so a lot of travelling, missing weekends because of having to be at tournaments. When I do get to come here, I do cherish it, I don't take it for granted.
How do you follow Liverpool when you're all over the globe at most points in the year?
People think I'm crazy but if I'm in Australia, I'll be waking up at 3am watching the Reds. I'm basically watching them all the time, I'm not missing a game. The only time I actually miss a game is if I'm on the court playing a match. My whole family are Reds. Me and my brother played doubles together for a long time and we got up at all hours to watch the Reds. It's definitely something we can't miss.
Where's the weirdest place you've watched a game, then?
All different places. I wouldn't say weird but in cars, on planes trying to stream it, trying to buy the Wi-Fi. It's most annoying when you're trying to stream it but then you've got notifications that pop up. That's most nerve-wracking when you see a notification, especially with VAR now when a goal has been allowed and then disallowed. There's all different places around the world. They do make my heart beat sometimes and not beat!
Have you ever asked for the score of a Liverpool game when on the court during a drinks break or something like that?
Yeah, especially in big games! My brother, we stopped playing together a few years ago and he's been on the sidelines quite recently, so he'll keep me up to date with scorelines along the way. It's probably not good for my tennis but I definitely need to know the score.
Jürgen Klopp is known to be quite good at padel. Do you fancy your chances against him?
Well, I've never actually played in my life but hopefully I get the opportunity to play against him. I heard he's very good and I think he's got his own padel racket now. I'd really look forward to getting out and playing against him, and hopefully I don't embarrass myself too much.
The boss wouldn't be a bad partner, would he? Giving you motivation and all that...
He'd be an unbelievable partner – don't tell my brother or my current partner Wesley that! I'm sure the guys at half-time get some unbelievable inspirational talks, and he must have given a great one when we came back to beat Barcelona a couple of years ago. He would be a good player to play with and hopefully I get the opportunity.