Dominic Iannotti - Scotland´s World Learning Disability Tennis Champion
Dominic Iannotti is a current world No. 3 tennis player. His career has taken him from his home in Prestwick, Scotland to Australia, Ecuador and around Europe representing the Great Britain Learning Disability National Squad.
Dominic was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at 4 years old and has been playing elite level tennis since he was 14.
Now 25, Dominic has recently been both training and coaching at SotoTennis Academy in Spain. In June he competed at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in France, winning the Bronze medal in Men’s Singles, and three Gold medals in the Team Event, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles for GB.
In today´s episode Dominic tells us all about:-
- How he has managed his life with Aspergers..
- The life he has created for himself, and the amazing opportunities Learning Disability Tennis has given him.
- His advice to parents and others that are starting out on this journey
- His hopes for Intellectually Impaired Tennis to be included in the Paralympics and so much more....
Be ready to be inspired and share the word of Learning Disability Sport, and all that it gives to so many.
DISCLAIMER: Please note we use a transcription service, so there may be some errors in the following transcription of this episode. If you can, please refer to the audio for exact quotations.
Daniel Kiernan 00:09
Welcome to Episode 195, of Control of Controllables. And today we have Dom, Ionotti. Now, Dom is a brilliant young man, we've had Dom with us here at the SotoTennis Academy for the last few months, as he's been preparing for the Virtus Global Games in France earlier this month. And if you're like me, I didn't know what the Virtus Global Games was, it wasn't something that I understood anything about, and the opportunities that are created through these organizations that are inclusivity within the sport of tennis. And that's a learning disability tennis and this specifically is for athletes who have an intellectual impairment, like Dom, and Dom has Aspergers. And we go into that detail of working out what that life has been like for him. And he has had so many opportunities that have come through it. And now he's at the point at age 25, that he wants to raise awareness because it's given him an incredible life through tennis, he's been to Australia to Ecuador, he's been competing for Great Britain, across the globe over the last few years, and picking up some just brilliant, brilliant experiences. And I want his story to go far and wide. Because there is a lot of opportunity in tennis, there is a lot of inclusivity in tennis, and we just quite often don't know about it. So please do listen, carefully, share. There's a lot of inspiration to be taken from this episode. And I thank Dom a lot for coming on. And like he talks about a couple of years ago, he didn't have his voice. This wasn't something that he wanted to talk about. And I'm so pleased that he did. And whilst we're talking about awareness, one thing I didn't know is actually, a few years ago, they stopped using the terminology Asperger's. And it's just comes under the autism spectrum. But those that do and have been diagnosed with Asperger's will often want to continue using that terminology like Dom does, as that's a big part of their identity. So what is autism? Well, the National Autistic Society says that autism affects how people communicate and interact with the world. And the common symptoms of Asperger's include difficulty interacting socially and forming relationships with other people, as well as having various repetitive behaviors. But ultimately, Autism is a spectrum, which means that everybody with autism is different, and they have their their own different journeys. Some will need lots of support from parents and from carers. And some won't need quite as much support. Now, last thing to mention, before we get going, don't did go to those games in France. He was a he was a bronze medalist in the men's singles a brilliant, a brilliant achievement. And then he came away as a double gold medalist, as he won the men's doubles and the mixed doubles. And he'll be telling us all about that. And lots lots more coming your way. So sit back and enjoy. And I'll pass you over to Dom Ionotti. So Dominic, Ionotti. A big welcome to Control the Controllables how're you doing?
Dom Ionotti 03:48
I'm very well done. How are you?
Daniel Kiernan 03:49
I'm very well, and I'm looking across at you in person. And it's like it's sending me mad its Episode 195. And I'm normally looking at a screen. And every now and then I can move my head away from the screen and people can't see me. So I'm feeling a little bit exposed. But this is our second ever podcast. The other one was another Dominic that I did in person which was Dominic Inglot. Okay, so the DI initial anyone with DI initial we do we do in person? No, my first thing when I when I asked how to pronounce your surname, and it's that kind of Ionotti. Not the you know, it's got the Italian. It's a very Italian name. So, so tell us what what part of you is Italian.
Dom Ionotti 04:34
So my dad's side, my dad's mum and dad are Italian. They're kind of based in the sort of Naples sort of region of Italy as well. So so yeah.
Daniel Kiernan 04:45
Is that where the flair comes on the tennis court, the Italian side?
Dom Ionotti 04:49
I like to hope so. Yeah.
Daniel Kiernan 04:51
And David, it's so good to have you on and I think it's, it's a story that we need to tell. You know, you're only 25 years old but You've achieved already so much in the game, you know, and you've been here at SotoTennis Academy in the last few months. And it's, you've been a big inspiration to everyone that is here. And we're gonna get into all of it because, you know, the intellectual, impaired tennis that you that you have played and the gold medals that you have won. And you know, I want to really dig into that and get us to really understand that a lot more. But ultimately, you're a tennis player, you've played tennis, you're a tennis coach. And the story starts as with anyone, you know, how, how does this sport up in Scotland? How does it get into your blood? How did that all begin?
Dom Ionotti 05:39
So basically, I started at the age of 10 years old, it was at my local club back in Prestwick, on the west coast of Scotland. Funnily enough, it was a parent and child sort of there on a Saturday you could come along you could you could come play tennis at the local center. It was actually my auntie and cousin that got me into into the club and said, why don't you come down and have a hit on the courts and stuff and then through time, as well as the mum say, a little Google for a coffee me and my cousin played you know, every weekend stuff, we had a bit of fun as well, that have a bit of a rivalry as well if you want to call it and then through time, we can have two sessions together, still up Prestwick as well, and then my cousin was actually a very good 10 pin bowling player. Through time he was actually number one for his age group, under 15 under 16 years, so he decided to go on to that sort of pathway. I kind of stuck with tennis. I really
Daniel Kiernan 06:28
He must have had a good topspin forehand is the old 10 pin bowling actions a bit topspin for one plate
Dom Ionotti 06:34
was better and the main but through time I'm actually I got I got a better forehand though. So I started competing at 14 years old train two or three times a week because my head coach at the time there Mike Openshaw who's based out in Lancashire,
Daniel Kiernan 06:48
We used to compete against each other many years ago,
Dom Ionotti 06:52
Where do you compete where it was,
Daniel Kiernan 06:53
We would have played I would have played against Mark in all sorts of places. I I don't want to insult him by saying He's as old as me. But I would imagine he's around my age. I remember playing him I mean, I couldn't I wouldn't reveal who won on the podcast on you know, but we I'm sure we want to play it multiple times in various places. So it's a small world, the tennis world.
Dom Ionotti 07:15
Exactly. Yeah. So he was he was my coach. And I first kind of got into it about 13, 14 like proper competing. And then I got scouted through Lesley Whitehead, who does the disability stuff up in up in Glasgow does a really good job with that as well. She was down at a local club in Prestwick and kind of the coaches knew it turn around but my Asperger's and said this is what could happen with Dom in terms of playing like Special Olympics or playing representing GB and all that and agree on Tuesday for him to kind of, you know, going play a bit more further afield and stuff and, and it kind of really took off from there. So I still played AB tennis even though I was playing LD stuff as well through my team and all that and and then when I got asked to say for what to go and pursue the GB staff, I was at Microsoft process to go through that as well. So
Daniel Kiernan 08:03
That started as early as 10 did it. So I started
Dom Ionotti 08:07
I started playing at 10 years old and the LD staff came around but 1415 Okay, at times I was competing sort of mainstream, from about the age of 13. And how we
Daniel Kiernan 08:15
are doing in the mainstream tennis because I mean, anyone that has come across Don will know he's he's a hell of a tennis player, you know, and you're cracking tennis players. So like, I would imagine you were you were getting involved in, in West of Scotland squad in mainstream tennis as well.
Dom Ionotti 08:32
Maybe not as much at that sort of age. To be honest, really, at that sort of a, we didn't know much about competitions. I mean, there wasn't many tournaments down the west coast of Scotland at a time. I mean, I think probably right now, if I'm being honest, I don't know if that's actually changed, which is a shame, because there are quite a few clubs down that neck of the woods. And you know, it'd be quite nice to see a bit more competition down down there as well. So I can play more kind of local based off mostly at Prestwick, a few tournaments up in Glasgow, maybe the old ones Sterling, as well, but I think like my dad's, you know, he was a big influence in my life and he'd done a lot of traveling with me and you know, very credit to him for taking time out of his work and supporting me and doing the travel when we had to as well. But you know, a lot my test matters at that time was kind of locally based and I was doing pretty well and doing a lot of the club stuff and get into kind of semis, finals of you know, some of the Glasgow stuff you know, grade three or grade fourth grade fives kind of locally regional sort of stuff. From the LD point of view, you know, the ads can go through an IQ process to kind of you know, get get qualified for the intellectual impairment I one category for that had to have an IQ of 75 or below, which I got, I got a pass in that category and the IQ. So from there, I think one to add to play a regional event for people with learning disabilities up in Glasgow, which I went and won, and I had to come play a national event there in Nottingham. Which again, I went and won, and had to go to a talent ID data and Loughborough after that, where I met Karen Ross, who's currently head of performance tennis Scotland, who at the time was also my GB coach for many, many years. And again, I've got, you know, many praises for Karen, she's a really, she's a fantastic coach, one of the best coaches I've had, as well as Mark out there, I've got a lot of time for her. And she's done a lot for me personally, of course, and on court as well. So I've got a lot to thank her, you know, for for keep pushing me and supporting me and everything in my life as well. So with with Karen and Lesley down there with a lot of the players, in that part as well. And then we had talent ID there in Loughborough. And then from that day, it was a case of it, who, who's getting selected for that the national squad, and then I got, I got lucky, I got a phone call to see I've been selected for the National squad to go and train with them. That was back in 2014. It's a long time ago, I was only maybe 14, 15. At a time when I got selected for the national squad. The top was to go to the Special Olympics, and it was somewhere in the US it was Los Angeles, let's say. But instead, they want me to potentially go and compete in the first annual one of the first Tennis Global Games for me, was being in Ecuador, in South America, so their biggest pain is for me. So
Daniel Kiernan 11:16
What's the difference? Tennis Global Games, Special Olympics, Virtus, you know, give us give us give us a breakdown. This conversation is so much about education as well, you know, because the there's so many people out there that won't be informed about this and you know, and about all of the different routes that that everyone can go go with in this sport. So So give us a little bit of an understanding on that, you know, what, what is Virtus? What is the Global Games? versus what is the Special Olympics and and how do they how do they differ?
Dom Ionotti 11:51
Okay, so firstly, let's start with the Virtus stuff. So, Virtus is basically a new name for INUS. So Virtus is kind of the governing body for intellectual impairment, athletes to allow them to compete at the elite level, their chosen sport. So for me it be tennis, and there's lots of sports like athletics, take on those swimming, cricket, football, that sort of thing. So like I say, a lot of people with a outside appearance to basically compete at the highest level possible within their chosen sport with Special Olympics. So similar thing compared to Virtus, but I'm not I'm not sure how it kind of an officer a different sort of funding kind of towards sort of things or, but I think we're Special Olympics was like division thing, as well. So with the tennis sort of thing, they have to get divisions based on their ability, rather than the rich. So it does. So you could be for example, your 20s or 30s, but play honorable as an example, I think, or you could be the regular age to play yellow ball as an example, as well. So all depends on the ability of the player, which I think for disability tennis or for learning disabilities in general is a good thing as well, because it kind of means you're playing with some the similar ability as you run similar age as well as you with in terms of the global games, and the Virtus, going back to the Virtus or I think they have an event every single year. For for tennis point of view, never event every year as of the World Championships, the European and World Championships and have the global games. So every sort of year, they have an event that every four years, they have the global games, which is the it's kinda like the Paralympics friends, excellent parent athletes, if you want to call it that. So last year, I competed at the Virtus Global Games held in Vichy, which was in France, the one before that was in 2019, which was in Brisbane in Australia. And then my very first event with GB was in 2015, which was in Guayaquil, Ecuador. So you've got World Championships in the years between the Global Games as well, which kinda changes every year depends on on the venues and the countries, they choose to host those venues as well. So what amazing experiences I know, and I'm very fortunate to have had those experiences. And I'm very fortunate to have met the people, the players, the coaches from around the world that we still keep still keep in contact with even through tough times we had with COVID as well, you know, we still kept in contact, we still had like zoom calls and quiz nights and like fun sort of things as well
Daniel Kiernan 14:15
Is there more that that brings something up in my mind. When we think of mainstream tennis, which is very individual, it's selfish, you know, there's a dog eat dog. And that's not just players, that's coaches as well, you know, and it's not quite as bad as some people think there is a camaraderie as well. But do you see a difference, if you go and play the global games as an example, compared to going and playing in the main mainstream events that you play? Do you see a difference in in the camaraderie and how people are with each other and almost a bit more of a collectiveness of everyone's in this together? Yes we're competing hard, but we empathize. We understand each other a bit more.
Dom Ionotti 15:04
I think as well with the like the Virtus stuff, we're a team, we're in a team environment. So like, we're all so we're, as you said correctly, like, yes, we're competing individually, and like the singles events and stuff, like we are a team, we're here to try and compete well, as a team, we're trying to win as many medals as we can, as a team, and we're trying to, you know, support each other, you know, no matter what happens on the court, whether we're, you know, gold medalist, silver medalist, bronze medalist, we're not getting a medal, whether we're, you know, competing every day, you know, we're always trying to support the team. And that's something that I really like, to be a part of, you know, as, as a player as well. And, and hopefully, one day, you know, no matter, I don't know what that will be, but one day, I'll hopefully get to, you know, experience that as a coach as well. I'd really like to do that as well, I think, you know, the experience that I've had and the personalities, I feel, you know, I'd be a really great influence on that sort of aspect as well. But being part of a team environment, you know, it kind of push it a little bit more as a player to achieve, you know, what you want to achieve and be successful and push that little extra moment, you know, one sort of experience from from going back to Vichy, you know, add a really, you know, not a big loss, but I really lost in the semifinals. And it was, you know, I'm not gonna lie, I was gutted after it. And I was playing my doubles partner for Rhys Higgins at the time. And you know, he was he's a really great player, great guy off court on court, really great athlete is very hard to, to break down and beat. And you know, there are moments in that match where I know if it could have gone either way. And that semi final, and it was a really great semi final to watch. And we actually had a comment from a few spectators saying that they watched that match, it was like watching it a futures event, you know, the level of tennis, not just in the semis. But in all in the third fourth that I played, then in the final, you know, it was, it was probably one of the highest levels of tennis that we've seen, you know, for a long time, and, and you're after that day, I thought it's alright, you know, that same fan was done, I've got a chance to win the bronze here third, fourth, I was I was 3rd seed. For that event, I thought you know, the third for forget chance for me to kind of match my wrap my seating for that event chance to go in and get on the podium. And I think emotionally after that match, I want to obtain the match tie. And I was just so relieved and buzzing after it as well. And I think you know with the team backing me I had like the team support me that whole match. I was playing on adrenaline for prob are set and a half of that match. That was just the team was brilliant supporting me coaches on coach on court decides, you know, helping me out, you know, every single point, saying let's go Dom, big cheers, you know, pushing me on this stuff. And it was just, it was a great match to be a part of. I had match points, I unfortunately lost them. I saved much points. You know, I eventually got over the line. And I was just so emotionally relieved, relieved to get over the line relieved to get on. I was very happy to get on the podium. And I was relieved to kind of match
Daniel Kiernan 17:58
Does relief allow you to enjoy it though. Because you've said really four or five times so yeah, relief is that I guess the point I'm trying to make Were you happy were you able to because Murray's talked about that before as well when he won when he won his first slam 2012 But when he when he's first Wimbledon 2013 He talks a lot about the feeling was relief, rather than enjoyment. And then when he won six 2016 He said he really I think he actually went to the nightclub and and got pissed he which is not an Andy Murray thing to do. You know, but he went out and he wanted enjoy the moment. He then felt sick the next day, which probably wasn't, was it wasn't the best way to enjoy the moment. But hey, we've all been there. You know, but that's were you able to enjoy the moment I was it is so much pressure and so much build up. Because I saw you the few weeks before this is a big deal. This was a big deal for you going out and playing these games. You know
Dom Ionotti 19:03
I think obviously going to like previous events, you know, I've always a partner in one event, which is in Paris in 2018 I've always reached the semis or I've went and won the event saw like, for me looking from from an outside perspective, you know, you're looking at the draw, you're looking at who's playing the event, you're probably thinking all these players are probably you're expecting them to get to final semis, whatever, you know. And I've always felt that expectation to get to at least the semis or the final because of how well I've done in previous events and stuff and I think with the way the match kind of went and obviously play playing like through the week, the star of the week, I was playing three or four matches a day, you know, an extra one set or as short sets to four match ties. It's a long day, 30 degrees every day you're waiting an hour an hour and a half each time to play you're having to kind of figure out when the best time to eat is for your lunch when how long you have to take to digest you're food, you've then got to go and warm up every time you go and play and that's as long as you know you're there from, you know, eight o'clock in the morning practicing, you're not just starting at 930, you could be on third, fourth round, you know, you're waiting for that time. And also sharing your teammates on as well. And you're thinking about lots of things about your match how you want to play, you know, you're trying to scout your opponent and how they're playing as well. And I think with the way the match kind of went and how I was feeling, you know, what I was, I like I said, I was I was on adrenaline for most of that match, I was, my body at the time was, it was near enough knackered, you know, and then to go on the mentality of playing a third fourth against the French player as well, who's probably you know, the big crowd is going to want the French player to win that, that match. And, you know, I kept telling myself look, every point at a time just chase the ball, don't do what you can, and, and then, you know, match tie break, you know, anything count in the match Tehrik. And I remember being three one down and thinking just whatever you do, just keep fighting
Daniel Kiernan 21:03
Great advice to many people listening,
Dom Ionotti 21:05
And we went level all the way till about eight all and then we are 11 10 body serve kick into the body hits return long, and that that's the relief. And I think I think when I see relief, all the time that that was because of the relief was like that the match was like very top, so it was like he was leading one way and the first set, and then I found a way to make, you know, get momentum back in the second and then match ties can anyone can win the match tie, it only takes a couple of points for it to change. And you know, that experience in that match tie, I literally went to the ground, and literally just laid there for a couple of seconds and just took it all in my college lecturer came on and jumped on me and prayers and stuff. And, and, and that's when I felt really emotional. Me My dad was actually at the side like literally, almost in tears of just relief and praise. And to see the support at the end was just phenomenal, you know, big respect to Benjamin, the French player who had a great tournament as well. And it's a great guy, and it's combined so much over the years. And, and, you know, for me to feel that moment and to match my seating to get bronze to get on the podium to go on the podium. You know, for the singles, you know, it's it was a great achievement for me from where I've came from. And, you know, that was a very proud moment.
Daniel Kiernan 22:27
And I think Dom for me, it just listening to you talking about it and the passion, the raw emotion, that feeling at the end of falling on the floor, the relief the hard work has paid off that their their award that you that you get for everything that you've put in. It's no different winning Wimbledon, or winning a big event, you know, the the emotions don't necessarily get any greater. And that is the the amazing thing that sport gives us. And the fact that sport is inclusive, this The fact is that we're now getting more and more opportunities for for people of all abilities, disabilities, to be able to experience that has to has to be a great thing. And, you know, I feel I'm there with you. And it's it's a big, big well done and, and lots more experiences to come. But I just want to I want to move into actually the subject of Asperger's you were diagnosed, I believe, age four. But what is it? What does that mean? You know, to me to those listening, what what actually does having Asperger's mean,
Dom Ionotti 23:50
in my opinion, having Asperger's I feel there's no point blank definition of this as well as you know, it's as a form of autism as you know, a form of a communication sort of disorder, but I think it's it's more based on the individual and how they deal with different situations in life. You know, people with Asperger's or any form of disability or some don't work, some have, you know, full time jobs, some live daily lives but I think it's how, how those people you know, deal with different situations. Like for me personally, you know, change for me is a big thing. When I first came out to Spain, I knew was going to be a big change and using a different culture in terms of the environment, the weather, meeting new people, you know, having like, flatmates for the first time as well and being away from family. You know, for this amount of time for the first time in my life. It was something that I wanted to do you know, but I knew it'd be a big challenge but one I was willing to, you know, to embrace and, and push myself a little bit and it's made me become a stronger person because of it, you know, but I think with with a disability, it's how you deal with those situations. And like I said, for me it was has changed, you know, it was, you know, reassurance was a big important thing for me as well and, you know, giving feedback and, you know, simple teaching points, you know, when I, when I was was being coached as a tennis player, you know, I caught I was coached by an a mainstream club, mainstream squads, mainstream players a very high level. So, you know, being coached was, was pretty normal to me, it wasn't, it was never adapted for me, you know, significantly, you know, and, and that's something, you know, that I respect, and I was, you know, appreciated, because it made me a better person because of it, as well. But, you know, for me, because of these challenges, you know, with, with change and learning to deal with, like scheduling, for example, and routines, and, and all that, and, and even like COVID, as well, like, you know, going into COVID times, you know, it was probably, you know, not a great time for me, you know how to deal with the change of right, we're not gonna be able to tree or not being able to complete a room. And so going abroad, and if you want to go abroad, you have to do, you know, get these documents, and get these tests, and all that sort of stuff. And that was, you know, it seemed quite a lot of work at the time and stuff, you know, but eventually came a bit of a normality. At that moment in time, it became, you know, a very stressful moment in my life, you know, where I had to learn to adapt to things, you know, and, you know, but through time and getting used to the routine, you know, I eventually understood a bit better as well. But, you know, like I said, you know, I think, you know, I read a stat A while ago, going over years and years ago, that one in five children in the US had autism. So it's a very common disability to have even like, like you said, earlier, I was diagnosed at age of four years old, back then, when I was diagnosed, this is gonna be what the early 2000s, Asperger's was never a common thing to know, you know, so when we first when I first got diagnosed, there was no sort of, you know, this is what you can do to go and do this, there was no sort of it was a very rare disability at the time. But in that, like I said, nowadays, it's very common to have and there's a lot more of it now. And there's a lot more awareness about it now than what there was back in the early 2000s, when I was first diagnosed with it, which is, which is a positive thing, because it means is, there's hope for there's now starting to be more support networks and more charities working with that and more organizations and partners. And, and that's something that I want to continue to use my name and push a bit more as well. So
Daniel Kiernan 27:20
And on that Dom, because I'm a parent, I'm a parent of a three. And if I go into the diagnosis bit, because with that, I guess it's, it's awareness and understanding, if we understand, we put a lot of labels on things, don't we, we like to label people, but just once there is that, that, okay, this is why you function in the way that you function. This is why you operate in the way that you operate it, that awareness and that understanding from the person that's experiencing that, but also people that are in that person's closeness knit circle family, close friends, who are who are with them on a daily basis, I think there is a little bit of a, okay, that makes sense, we can now we can work with that, you know, whereas we talk about as parents all the time, why does a kid behave in such a manner, or, you know, parents are always talking about their kids, you know, with, with their friends, it's a kind of a constant, constant communication that we're having. And, and when you don't have the diagnosis, which is not so easy to get, right, if you then are treating everyone almost as the same. Yeah. And then there's behaviors that are happening, that there's judgments that are made, and that becomes a very difficult place for the child to be because they aren't understood. They don't understand themselves. There, they experienced some frustrations because they don't want to feel like that, in that in that situation. And and before you know it, things can blow up and behaviors can happen. So it seems like you were quite fortunate to get that early diagnosis, and then have really good people around you because you were able from that young age to to remain in a mainstream school to be able to manage your your life in that way. And your parents were able to do that as well. How how impactful Do you think it would have been if it wasn't picked up at such an early age?
Dom Ionotti 29:35
I don't think I've had the same impact as what I did when I was younger. There's many people out there that are getting diagnosed in like the mid late 20s 30s 40s etc. And had I not been diagnosed at an early age I don't know what would have happened you know, so it's always like you know what ifs and this couldhave happened like, you know, and, and ladies, you touching the light, I had a very, you know, supportive fan Um, like, you know, they, they support me what I want to do with my life and make my own decisions and stuff and allow me to live a normal life and go to mainstream schools and mainstream college and, and play mainstream tennis as well and meet new, meet new friends and live a little of a normal life if you want. And, and, you know, I'm very fortunate for that and, you know, at a young age when I was, you know, diagnosed and, you know, we had to go down south, you know, we chose to go down south, to the British Institute for being to children, or Bibic is the short name. The guy that was with me was, was called Graham, and he was, you know, he was brilliant with me taught me wrong from right, you know, communication skills and how to deal with certain situations and whatnot. And, and, you know, if it wasn't for him, you know, I probably wouldn't be the person that I was, you know, today in terms of that aspect of the communication stuff. So I went to Bibic, from like, for a few years, from the age of four or five to, you know, eight, nine, and installed, I mentioned skilling alongside of that as well, and whatnot, and,
Daniel Kiernan 31:02
But again, that shows the impact of, of picking it up and being able to get that work done.
Dom Ionotti 31:07
Oh, for sure. For sure. I mean, I'm very thankful and, and the help that he gave me and, and my family as well, you know, this the sort of methods that he gave to my mum and dad, and in taking that to the household as well, you know, to make me become a better person. As well, I mean, I don't really remember much of them, but I remember going down, I remember the experiences of, of doing that. And, as well, and being very thankful for that, for that support network as well.
Daniel Kiernan 31:35
What are the big challenges, the day to day challenges that you've that you've had to deal with, that you've been able to overcome to have the success that you've been able to have one on the tennis court, but also also in life, and maybe some of the unseen ones, you know, that we that we might not quite, you know, that you've been here for a few months, that we wouldn't necessarily pick up on? You know, just because it's day to day life? And there's a lot that goes on internally, right, there's a lot that there's a lot to happen, what are some of those day to day challenges
Dom Ionotti 32:10
If you go on, like a timescale, you know, from you know, what, let's just say when COVID kind of hit in like, 2020, I just finished the coaches conference up with an Eagles with and Scotland and I was talking about my success in Brisbane, and, you know, at the time becoming a number one, a one player in the world and what I had achieved my experiences in Australia, and, and then the pandemic, and, you know, kind of few months after that, and it was, it took a while for me to understand that, you know, I won't be able to train, I won't be able to go and compete, because at the time, I was preparing for an event in Belgium in July, which is the next Virtus World Championships, in Belgium to know from that March in 2020, that, you know, everything is stopped, you know, we couldn't go to the gym, we couldn't go to the courts, we couldn't go and compete, we couldn't travel abroad, we couldn't, we couldn't believe everyone sort of area, there was a culture shock, probably not just for me, but probably the whole world. in a sense as well. So for me, with a disability and and many others with disability, you know, the routine literally changed, you know, very quickly. And to go from a full time job to then you know, having to deal with Zoom calls to dealing with you know, finding other ways to train, you know, fitness classes, online walks, runs, you know, I've done a lot of cycling as well along the west coast and I belong up along the beach as well. And, and then, you know, that was kind of my sort of way of de-stressing, if you want to call it and taking my own time and to see the lovely scenery on the west coast as well was was really nice and and then you know, when things events are started to open up again finding again, that routine of what I used to do before COVID Then how I could try and adapt into the new sort of way of life for everyone. And for myself. And, you know, we went back to coaching a lot, but it was like one household there, you know, we could only you know, see a household a day come visit household they mean,
Daniel Kiernan 34:08
And what did that do to you mentally? I guess? Because what what's hitting me is? You like order? Yeah, you like things to be the way they are you you very clearly like to have purpose and reason. You know, and you're able to give yourself those those purposes and those reasons. And that period of time took all of those things away, you know, and left us in a position of the unknown. Yeah. So I know that you have experienced mental health struggles, anxieties, depression, is it was that the period that it sent you into some of those dark places?
Dom Ionotti 34:47
I think that was one of the periods going into that into COVID. That was, you know, a very stressful time for me and and not kind of knowing how long the pandemic was going to last for. It could have lasted for maybe a week, could've lasted for three months. You know, I think once we kind of knew what was happening with the pandemic, and things started to open up a little bit, I could then plan my schedule, but better and travel restrictions start to open up a little bit, you know, even going to tournaments and stuff in order, the drawers are very limited in terms of numbers, because of the amount of households and stuff.
Daniel Kiernan 35:19
And how did you personally get out of get out of that, that rut? That that position of? I'm feeling a little bit helpless here, how were you able to push through that period?
Dom Ionotti 35:32
Well, obviously not financially, in order for me, but for all of us. It was, it was hard, you know, but you know, luckily for me, very thankful to the club that used to work out, you know, the financially helped us with what the occurred, you know, I got grants from the LTA, which is very, you know, thankful from them as well. But you know, from my sort of routine and wanting to, you know, want to go back to work, you know, as well and earn a bit extra in a way, you know, you're looking at the time that the, the trend of jobs going about was the leverage it was, you know, just the UberEATS delivery drivers, delivering online shopping, you know, from supermarkets, and online retailers, and I thought, you know, I might as well do it, give it a go. So, you know, I decided to go and get a job for for Hermes at the time, so called every delivering parcels online shopping, you know, and at the time, and I really enjoyed it, you know, the routine of going out to the Depo, loading up scanning all the parcels, setting PTAs and, and getting a regular customers and they get to know you, you get to know them, you get to have a chat as well sometimes and, and it kind of helped a lot with social skills and just develop different skills for work in general, like time management and being on time and again, like a star rating, as well, I still, I still remember even though I'm not there anymore, still maintaining a five star rating, as I also fully decided to go back, you know, you'll be getting a good hug, again, good customer service from me. So without that job, I probably wouldn't have, I probably wouldn't be a different person, you know, it helped me a lot, you know, just even just to get at the house for a few hours a day,
Daniel Kiernan 37:01
and fair play to because there's somebody listening to this right now who, and probably a few people that are having their own mental health struggles, you know, life's tough, you know, froze lots out of us, yes, we have the pandemic, but life is tough in general, you know, and it can, it can take us into these places. And I think the thing that's so inspiring for, for me hearing that DOM is, you found yourself in a place, but you took a step forward in just taking just that one step forward, wherever it's to look for a job, make a call, let somebody know, how you're feeling, you don't know what doors are then going to open up, you know, and that would, that's what I would urge anybody that is experiencing that, you know, take this from dumb story. And by doing that, you then get you start meeting people, new friendships, new networks, doors start open, and then he you are in Spain, you know, and it's like, life can life can turn around really quite fast. And it seems to me that you have been at your young age of 25, European brilliant at putting these goals, these purposes, these reasons in place, you know, and I saw that even when you when you came to the academy, it was very much about the global games, it was about right, this is what I need to do, I need to get myself on court, I need to improve this, I need to develop that. And putting that process and that plan in place. And yes, with your with your disability with your Asperges that is something that you've had to do. Otherwise, you're not going to quite function in the way that you want to. However, it's the same for all of us, you know, without without, without having those goals and those things for us to aim aim towards. So a big, big well done done on that. And though the other thing that strikes me is how well you talk about all of this, you know how, how openly you're talking about this and, and the impact that you're having in sort for so many people out there, sharing your story. But you told me a couple of months ago that a few years ago you never would have. It's this is not this was not someone I think you even use the word embarrass, which is crazy, because you have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. But just it was something you wanted to keep to yourself you didn't want to share with the world. When was your voice found when when did that change?
Dom Ionotti 39:35
So yeah, so going back to that moment, like you know, I remember back in 2014 Playing a regional event in Glasgow as part of the criteria to get into the national squad for the LD tennis and I remember winning that event and my parents myself we said to the sets the club like we don't want any any social media bow you know, you know the when I think period because I didn't want to feel judged for having a disability, I didn't want to feel how people were treating me once they found out and stuff. And I think, you know, that that kind of stuck in me quite a lot. And, you know, it got to a turning point, you know, in 2017, we had the World Championships in Bolton, so we were hosting the event and that was it was quite begging, again, in terms of who was playing the event and, you know, quite big posting all over the GB players and they wanted to do as much as they could to help us support us as well. And with what I achieved in that event, you know, getting the bronze for the first time, you know, making you know, when the third fourth for the first time, when the doubles event with with Fabrice muda was partner. At that time, you know, we decided to say, you know, what I could actually, you know, go and do something, you know, I could really, you know, inspire people with any form of disability, whether it's intellectual, visually impaired, or deaf, you know, physical you know, any sort of disability, you know, to go in to go and get involved in the sport, because disability tennis is very adaptable.
Daniel Kiernan 40:59
But it feels like you've got a strong Northstar, you know, that, you know, where you're heading, you know, the impact that you are, are able to have on so many people, and they, they say that if your Northstar is that strong, then you'll actually never work a day in your life. And, and you are in a fortunate position, you know, to have such purpose, and get up every day, and know that what you are doing is going to something that's great, you know, and it is impacting so many people. So how does that feel?
Dom Ionotti 41:38
Now, if it feels great, I mean, me, I'm not gonna lie, like, you know, what I kind of went in going back to, like, the mental health stuff, I mean, I kind of went through a phase like early kind of this year, where, you know, I kind of didn't feel, you know, myself on court, I, you know, I wasn't feeling great. And I kind of felt like, I was acting a little bit if you know, what I mean, and trying to put a face on trying to, you know, I found it quite hard to express myself a little bit, and my previous couple years to work out, you know, I, I kind of decided that was a time, you know, to kind of leave things and kind of move on and see something new and challenge myself a little bit. And if I look back at my experience at that club, you know, and I just want to say, as well, you know, the quality of press returns the fitness and or the, they gave me a platform, you know, they gave me a stepping stone into my career. And, you know, they helped me a lot of my, you know, coaching qualifications, you know, my confidence as a coach, you know, continue to grow through our club, and I've got a lot to, you know, respect, and thanks for what they've done for me in my life, you know, I spent a lot of my time, you know, 15 years I spent in that club as a long part of my life. At that moment, you know, I kind of decided it was time for a change, and you know, what that change was, I don't know, and, you know, going back to the mental health, no, it was kind of a unknown of what was going to happen, you know, I wasn't sure of my next steps. And, you know, that's when I decided to take a bit of a break from, from day to day life and kind of focus on me a little bit. And when I see my sister down in London, I kind of, you know, spend time with friends and family, and it was just nice to take a break from the stress of it all. And then once the team was up and that's kind of where I can sort of became a little bit around, you know, thinking about France as well had a bit of an impact on the stress as well, because I wanted to do so well. And thinking about, you know, where, what could I do, where could they go and train you know, and for me from a training perspective, sorta was a no brainer, you know, clear quartz, nice weather, really good style of players, mixture of ITF American college futures players, great experienced coaches as well, you know, and for me as a level three coach to go out and do that coaching as well, you know, to learn from these guys. It was it was a no brainer to come out and it had nothing to lose you know, it was it was a time period where I thought you know what, I'm gonna go out here I'm gonna push myself if I love it, great. If I don't, it's fine. I've done it. I've challenged myself I've taken that that next step in my career to go in and ask questions learn from the best court one of the best some of the best coaches out in in Europe out there as well and and that's something you know, for me, I probably wouldn't have done maybe two or three years ago, but you know, what the experience that I've had and the steps I want to take in my career you know, I felt at the time which was time for me to kind of you know, move on and as a no no personal issues anyone from that club you know, I got a lot of thankful from them for their for their stepping stone of my career and you know, hopefully I'll get to you know, go back and visit at some point but
Daniel Kiernan 44:37
What do you want to achieve in your career?
Dom Ionotti 44:41
That's a very good question. And my young career just No, you know, I've done a lot you know, I've I've got number one status, and every single category in Singles Doubles mixed team. I've won many national disability titles. I've won many regional titles. I've competed in so many mainstream events. I've played county cut from my count See, I've played you know, I've done so many things out west playing as well that I've been very like cool commentating at the Murray Trophy. I've done, you know, articles, I've worked with partners. You know, I've, I've been very fortunate to work with so many great people. So I think, you know, it's a good question. I've been very fortunate to be around the right people for so long. And I think tennis is one of the sports where there are so many pathways, there are so many opportunities out there, you're volunteering at events, you know, you can like refereeing umpiring, now coaching, a pro player coaching, a junior coaching and adult coaching in the program, being a head coach running your own business. You know, there's so many pathways, and you know, I'm probably at that phase where, you know, I've got so much experience and a lot of those pathways that I'm just trying to figure out, you know, what pathway I want to do, you know, I still want to do about court, I still want to coach and I'm hoping to do my level four kind of next year, and the performance pathway, and I'll still want to be around disability, and I still want to be around a performance environment, you know, and I still want to be, if if I had the chance to train, you know, be great, if I, if I didn't, you know, I wouldn't be too stressed. But, you know, I feel like I've achieved a lot. And in terms of, you know, a coaching perspective, you know, I want to keep progressing. And that, in that perspective, I want to, you know, get to learn about the media side of things and, and just kind of explore a little bit you know, I'm at the age where I'm at, you know, it's time for me to get on Network A little bit and see in the reason, a big reason why I did come to sorta was, you know, to, to network, get to know different coaches get to ask questions, get to see the behind the scenes and how herland podcast works, and how the marketing side works and how the media side works. And, and it's just been a really great learning curve for me, and, and something that I can take away, and relish from that from that experience as well. And it makes me a better person for that. So to answer your question, easily, I don't really know,
Daniel Kiernan 46:59
watch this space, watch their space. And in terms of coaching, I've been a firm believer for a while now. And I have to shout out Mark Bullock, I'm sure you know, Mark, you know, in great game abilities. He's a brilliant guy. And the first time I met him was 30 years ago at the PTCA. Anyone that is old enough to remember that the player plus event where you can have coaches on court with you under 13. And Mark was a good friend of John Willis, who was my coach, and we went and I think I slept on his couch, he looked after us, put us up all over that weekend, and Mark has gone on and done a lot of great things. And it is, you know, inclusivity of tennis across the board, you know, whether that's visually impaired, physical disability, whether that's, you know, intellectually impaired, there's, there's obviously so many, there's so many different disabilities out there. But everyone deserves a chance to play the beautiful game of tennis, right? And, and to my belief, after having mark on the podcast a couple of years ago, it really got me thinking because when we when I think of the best coaches, I think the best coaches have the ability to connect with different individuals. I don't think of the best coaches that go well, it's my way or the highway, we have to be able to adapt our communication techniques, we have to be able to adapt and be creative to get the messages across. Now, what better way to learn that than coaching someone who's visually impaired, somebody who's deaf, someone who is playing in a wheelchair, someone who is intellectually impaired, somebody who, you know, has as a as a physical disability, and I just believe that the coaching courses should incorporate that, you know, I think we need to embrace, you know, there's inclusivity, across the board and tennis, and I think it's how we would we would create better tennis cultures. So that my question goes to you because you have had that experience and a personal experience, but but you've also had the mainstream experience. So are you a better coach for it? Because you are able to empathize with with different people in the challenges that they have. And do you feel mainstream coaches will struggle working with people in disability tennis, because they don't have that personal experience? themselves?
Dom Ionotti 49:42
Yeah, I think, you know, when I was coaching, my previous club, you know, I was the head of the disability program. And you know, it was probably one of the main things I love to do. And in short, you know, my passion and my experience with all those people, even with even with a disability So, you know, I still I think is based on the person, I think if you've got a great personality and you're passionate about, you know, seeing success and people in changing people's lives for the better, you know, I think that makes you a more rounded person. It, it shows how passionate you are in general. And you know, that was a big reason why I love doing the disability stuff was because I wanted to, especially in my local area, you know, where there's a lot, a lot of people who, you know, rely on care, work and care support, and don't really end on work full time. And, you know, I wanted to, to have an impact on those people's lives. And I wanted to show those people that anything, no matter whether you have a disability or not, anything's achievable in life, you know, if you if you really work hard, and if you really, you know, set your mind to something, it could be the smallest thing in life, it could be as simple as going to your local club and playing for an hour. It could be as simple as going into into a cafe or having a coffee with somebody, if someone's having a conversation, I want to show and use my name and use what I've done, you know, to push those people and ensure that anything's achievable, no matter what circumstance you have, and going back to the course and stuff, you know, okay, a cane have absolutely no fuel. In my opinion, I don't my level three course back in 2018. So, five years ago, we only had one day of a disability short course. And I think that's a big reason, in my opinion, why there isn't many clubs. And I don't know why it's like that in England, but I know in Scotland, there's not many clubs that have a program purely because of that. And I generally feel that if there is maybe a CPD, or of course, a baron disability tennis or an awareness day or an awareness weekend where we can promote this to coaches invite them to come down to clubs or indoor facilities that have you know, disability equipment, like wheelchairs, and, and special equipment that we can use to adapt share since sessions and stuff, you know, and really promote disability, tennis and what it is and what impact it has on people's lives. And using famous like people like like myself, and Lisa Gordon Reid and Kevin Simpson, who's a Paralympic gold medalist as well, you know, people like that, who can showcase, you know, disability tennis and what it's done and continue to promote it even more. But I feel going back to the courses that the more recognition and the more promotion and the more courses they have around that. Then the more like mainstream coaches may say, You know what I might I might give this a go, I may trial a disability program, and if it works, fantastic. And if it doesn't, and it doesn't Well,
Daniel Kiernan 52:50
It goes to goes to awareness and understanding. Again, I think Dom doesn't it. Because if I even take my own personal coaching journey, which has been a long bloody time now, which is a bit scary in 20 years, I feel a lot more comfortable coaching players that I know that I know that I've had success with. Yeah, so you can give me give me a couple of older players who play to a very high level, on a full on a full court with a yellow ball on a I'm like a pig in shite. Do you know what I mean? It's just It's what it's what I do. It's what I do. And I'm not even going into disability. I'll get to that in a minute. Give me 25 five year olds playing on a mini tennis red court. I'm like, What the hell do I do? Where do I go? So then now give me two three visually impaired players. I am literally scratching my head. You know, I'm scratching my head thinking Oh, my goodness, it's so I think it's human nature for us to do what we're comfortable doing. You know, so. So if we're not exposing people to that, yeah. And you know, you through your own natural journey have been exposed to disability, tennis across the board. So you naturally already have the mind that thinks like that, you know, and I don't think it's that people don't want to or that there. There's a bad feeling towards it. It's just what is it what is in our world. So, again, I go back to Mark who does a great job on it. But the more that we can give people experience, get people to understand the more coaches that are driving it within clubs, the more opportunities that then grow. And you know, easier said than done. You could go we could jump into female coaches. There's been a massive push from Judy Murray to get more female coaches. There's a there's men The different aspects to this, but you go back to as well, why this is so important that it's out there is and I've said it a few times on the podcast, but Coco Gauff said something that really stuck with me a few months ago she said, she said was when Serena was finishing US Open. She said when she was a little girl, she turned on the TV. And she saw what saw somebody who looked like her. And she said, if you can see it, you can be it. You know, and being able to relate to people and why role modeling is so so important. And getting those programs going. So I think it's a massive it's a massive, massive thing. Good luck with the drive on that. You know you've you've clearly got it you've got the purpose. You're also the right man, keep talking keep speaking out, keep keep moving forward, but Dom wet. I have one or two more questions for you. But I've just flicked on my phone and I have just seen that Liam Broady yo a big big friend here at the podcast. Someone who is a special person in my life. He's an amazing guy is five love up in the fifth set at Wimbledon on Centre Court against Casper Ruud. So if you don't mind was taking a short break, and we need to jump and watch him finish that job.
Dom Ionotti 56:26
Of course. I think it'd be stupid not to.
Daniel Kiernan 56:29
We're back. And he did it. Six love in the fifth set the embroidery through to the third round of Wimbledon. And this year, he gets the points as well. Dom, that was pretty inspirational.
Dom Ionotti 56:43
It certainly was. I mean, credit to Liam I mean, Centre Court Wimbledon, you know, you're saving for the match. I mean, I even said to your dad at match point, you know, server way there into the body, forehand winner down the lane, and that was a partner put them on the match. And you know, he can go go away and yeah, absolutely buzzing looking forward to a next encounter with Denis Shapovalov. Which, you know, in my opinion, you know, is a winnable tie, I think Dennis is an incredible player, you know, he's done a really good job at Wimbledon as a junior, as well. But I mean, Liam can take a lot of confidence from today's game, especially in that fifth set winning it six love rest up and really going and bow for it for a place in Rome for
Daniel Kiernan 57:22
And sorry, guys that were that, that broke our rhythm a little bit. But it's you know, Liam is someone that he started, he came to SotoTennis academy, back, he was one of the first ever players to come to the academy. Back 12 years ago, I've been fortunate enough to travel with Liam see firsthand how hard he works. And, you know, when, when these tennis players that have been doing it like yourself Dom, you know that that emotion that you felt in France, when you got the bronze medal, you know, you really can't beat that emotion and to, to see Liam have that win over the world number four, I couldn't miss it. But I've got a couple more questions, as I said, for you. And I think that the first one is as we move into the future, we know where we stand, we know where intellectual impairment tennis currently is. Where do you want to see it five years? 10 years? You know, how? How can it move forward? How can it? How can I get into it in even stronger position and give the opportunity for more and more people?
Dom Ionotti 58:26
So very good question. As well, I mean, Virtus have done an incredible job over the years with the amount of athletes that are continuing to come forward come through. I mean, I think in the last Virtus global games, across all sports, there was around maybe 1300 athletes across all sports, as well. So, you know, it's an incredible amount of athletes, it shows how much intellectual impairment sport is starting to grow. But, you know, like with anything in life, you know, there are there are things that you know, can continue to develop, you know, I think, from a tennis perspective, what I'd love to see, I think I can probably speak for more tennis players and in the category is potentially our category being in the Paralympics, at some point, you know, it's, I think it's a shame that we're not in the Paralympics, you know, I think, you know, you look at in table tennis for the Virtus stuff, you know, it's in the Paralympics in for the athletic stuff. It's in the Paralympics, you know, but I'd love to see tennis, you know, however they do it, whether it's the top eight in the world, or whether it's the top 60 in the world, or however they want to do it. You know, I would love to be in the Paralympics, whether it was 2028 or, or the next Paralympics
Daniel Kiernan 59:36
What's the process for that? What? How does how does it go from not being into being?
Dom Ionotti 59:42
To be honest? I don't know the exact answer. I would imagine a bit something to do with the Paralympic Committee. Were there at the site on that for what we're doing. Just know with the annual events, you know, I mean, I don't know if it's gonna be down to resources or funding or what, ideally I have no idea but you know, I would love to see IE, maybe not next to a 24 Paralympics. But the next one, you know, it'd be great to have as involved in the Paralympics, or even have more of regular events from the calendar year, instead of just one per year, whether it's more in Europe or whether it was, you know, more Virtus sanctioned events, I know, earlier on next year in Australia, and Melbourne, they have their national tournament in lengthier Silla and open. So it's held in Melbourne Park, and they get the opportunity to play in Melbourne Park and to see the Grand Slam venue and, and we got invited over to Melbourne Park as part of it. And, you know, I couldn't unfortunately make it due to, you know, certain circumstances, both work and financially as well. But, you know, if it's the same next year, you know, I'd love to go over next year and compete in it, you know, as well. And it'd be great to have those sort events around UK and across Europe as well. But I think with that, you know, there's there's plenty of potential to grow, the more recognition we get, as a body as a governing body as tennis players, you know, from likes of BBC and the STV. And, you know, you know, a bit a bit great to see, you know, BBC reporters, right, ITV reporters coming out from the UK to these events, and actually seeing the level of tennis that's actually out there, because there's very rare that you get to see that as well. And, and it helps you realize, as players, you'll get that recognition that, you know, we like to get and that appreciation that support, you know, from everyone else, as well. And, you know, I've been very fortunate, you know, locally to be you know, recognized or from local journalists, you know, tennis Scotland by a great job supporting me in my journey, I get recognized by Shavon Brown, who's a local MP for for the SNP party back in Scotland. And that way, you know, was special in my moment in life as well, and an experience that I'll never forget as well. And, but yeah, but I think there's definitely a lot of potential to, you know, grow Virtus sport, I think, you know, and, but, you know, in terms of that process, you know, that's something that you know, that the Paralympic Committee would need to, you know, answer on as well. So,
Daniel Kiernan 1:02:00
And we touched on it. You told me, it was a good question. I always know, when people say Good question, that means that they're thinking, they don't just tell, you know, podcast listeners when people say, it's a good question. It's not that they think it's a good question. It's because they're trying to buy themselves time. And I've learned all of the tricks over over the last over the last three years. The future for you? I gave it 510 years, a little bit sooner than that, you know, but what have you What have you got in your immediate future to look forward to?
Dom Ionotti 1:02:34
Again, another another great question, you know,
Daniel Kiernan 1:02:38
Buying time guys.
Dom Ionotti 1:02:41
Yeah, I mean, I think this year for me in general, it's been like a topsy turvy year you know, I went from you know, coaching full time or club you know, to deciding to kind of move on and and try new things and experience something different and you know, this is when you're so talking about and, and kind of having the unknown of you know, what my next sort of steps were and you know, being sort of you know, it's given me that experience to see different aspects of the academy you know, the on court stuff the off court stuff meeting people likes of Daniel who's helped me a lot and and all the coaches as well and and all the great operations team to do a great job behind the scenes and in keeping you know, you know, the social media stuff going on and the operation the academy running as well. So I'd love to come back to Soto of you know, if it was a chance to come back and do some more stuff I'd love to do it and you're in Thank you very much
Daniel Kiernan 1:03:35
It's a it's the first time that we've done a live a live job interview and then an acceptance of a job so another first for the podcast to have
Dom Ionotti 1:03:47
You know about no I've got in jokes to say no I know I've got you know opportunities in a back in the UK that I can I can get involved with as well you know, coaching roles and stuff within disability tennis So I can get involved in so Ray them I'm open to I'm just taking it day by day enjoying my experience most of yours as well you know, I've only got a couple of weeks left to go with, you know, the beauty of Brexit being Brexit and I would love to stay for longer you know, but these things happen and stuff that's another thing we've had to face as well
Daniel Kiernan 1:04:17
Brexit
Dom Ionotti 1:04:20
that's a good way to call it so yes, I'm just taking it day by day enjoy my experience as I can and just see what happens you know in in the foreseeable future as well. I know that you know I'm very thankful for the chance opportunity here that I've had and it's been it's been incredible experience you know, I'm very thankful to you Dan for for that comment but for the contact and often you've done for me as well and and same for all the rest of the guys who have sort of been brilliant with me players coaches operations team support from the parents as well and has been top notch and and who knows where I'll be I might be with the GB team, you know, in a coaching role. I might be back in Scotland, I might be in the UK. I might be out here. I'm just taking it day by day.
Daniel Kiernan 1:05:00
You're gonna have many opportunities. Yeah, you're a delightful young man who who's an inspiration to, to many, including all of us. Dom, you really are. Now, before we move into the quickfire round, some advice, you know, someone who, who does have Aspergers, someone who does have learning disability, you know, someone who feels, I can't do that. This is the real story that is so inspirational for me, because you've moved away. Those those barriers, those boundaries, those lines, and you've, you've gotten through the sport of tennis, and you've created your, your journey, your, your life, you know, I I'm a massive believer that tennis is a vehicle that can it takes us through life. And there's, you know, it helps us with challenges difficulties, but it's not always easy to get on that step. You know, especially when we maybe have that feeling or that insecurity or, you know, that that challenge. So what would your advice be to anybody that is listening has family members, young family members that are maybe going through their difficulties, because they haven't quite got the awareness, understanding or support networks in place to help get them into tennis?
Dom Ionotti 1:06:21
My advice would be no, it's, it's okay to go through struggles, you know, it's a part of normal life part of day to day life, you know, I've been through I'm pretty sure you've been through Dan as well, I never wanted to, and everyone in society has, and to know that there are support networks out there, you know, I, I ever had a bit of mentoring, you know, through COVID, just to kind of, you know, to get to get some help as well through that period of time, but I found it quite tough, you know, I, I took some time out, you know, previously last few months to kind of see where my head was at and what my next steps were, but, you know, tennis for me was a big reason why I felt successful. You know, I felt I could be successful, why I felt I could meet new people and network and, and as we said, in this podcast, the rain or tennis is a sport where there's so many avenues to life, and you can you can do like volunteering at your club, you can go and get into coaching very easily. There's, it's a very adaptable sport, and, you know, my, my best advice would be, you know, you've got, you've got to go for it, you know, have there's been no fear and having a challenge, you know, a big challenge for me was coming out to Spain, you know, when I when I told people I was going to Spain, people said to me, you could have moved somewhere locally, you could have gone to Glasgow, you could have gone down. So first bloody
Daniel Kiernan 1:07:39
Bloody freezing
Dom Ionotti 1:07:40
But I chose to come to Spain. And, and because of because of that, it made me a better person having pushing those boundaries and comforts, to challenge myself in different environments, in different climates and in different situations and having to fend for myself, make my own shopping, cook my own foods, you know, do my own washing, you know, it's there's things that I was used to at home, but you know, probably not on a regular basis as what I'm doing now. So any opportunity, you know, any sort of whether it's any sport to do or a chance to, you know, to, to take part in like local and all back home, there's like local, like what groups for people with disabilities, local sort of groups that they have, and any chance to meet people, you know, take it a chance to make friends chance to meet people who can then progress on to another step, again, to meet Dan is allowed me to take another step and meeting, you know, for other people as well. And I'm very fortunate for that and even third GB journey or meeting like Karen Ross, who, who was a great influence in my life, you know, as a GB coach, in our time as well, you know, allowed me to meet more people from tennis Scotland and get to know them. And again, to know like some blame boards or CEO and stuff like that, and you know, and it's, it's people who you meet who then allow you to go and meet new people as well. And by the end of duty, you have to take part in sport, but it doesn't have to be tennis, it could be any sort of sport or any sort of activity or any way to make you know, to make your life you know a bit more you know, less stressful you know, take it you know, because it because you don't know where it could lead you can lead you it can lead you on to a great path, which I'm very fortunate to have been on.
Daniel Kiernan 1:09:25
Very, very good. Take the step guys take the step. Take the first step. quickfire round,
Dom Ionotti 1:09:33
Lester, I'm ready.
Daniel Kiernan 1:09:35
Singles or doubles.
Dom Ionotti 1:09:38
I'm gonna be bold. I'm gonna say Dubs.
Daniel Kiernan 1:09:42
Just because you got all the gold medals serve or Return.
Dom Ionotti 1:09:48
I'm gonna say serve.
Daniel Kiernan 1:09:50
Roger or Rafa.
Dom Ionotti 1:09:52
Sorry Roger, but I'm gonna say Rafa
Daniel Kiernan 1:09:54
the lefty lefty,
Dom Ionotti 1:09:57
lefty, you're a great player, right. Bye plus a rapper
Daniel Kiernan 1:10:01
under arm serve or not?
Dom Ionotti 1:10:04
Under himself. Yep,
Daniel Kiernan 1:10:06
net chords or not?
Dom Ionotti 1:10:09
Not because I'm used to.
Daniel Kiernan 1:10:12
So do you play no neck chords is playing?
Dom Ionotti 1:10:15
We're playing we play No, lets
Daniel Kiernan 1:10:16
let's good. Serena or Venus,
Dom Ionotti 1:10:20
Serena? Sorry, Venus
Daniel Kiernan 1:10:21
medical timeout or not?
Dom Ionotti 1:10:25
I'm going to send me a yes. No containment. Yes.
Daniel Kiernan 1:10:27
What does control the controllables mean to you?
Dom Ionotti 1:10:32
I think you should control the controllables means to me is is what you can control, whether it's in tennis robots and life. There's only certain things you can control. And sometimes when there's things out with your control, then it's as part of life in life. I've learned that, you know, being here and even being in France, you know, things not gone my way or things that you know, like, like change, for example. You know, it's something that I've had to kind of deal with, you know, the uncontrollable, but I think you'll control control versus what you can control and life.
Daniel Kiernan 1:11:04
And what's one rule change that you would have in tennis?
Dom Ionotti 1:11:11
That's a good question.
Daniel Kiernan 1:11:14
He's time. Again, folks.
Dom Ionotti 1:11:15
I know. If there's one rule change, I would say you're allowed. You're allowed to coach it change of ends.
Daniel Kiernan 1:11:26
miked up so we can hear what they're saying? Yes. Be good for the entertainment value, wouldn't it? And who should our next guest be on control the controllables?
Dom Ionotti 1:11:39
I think probably somebody from Wimbledon. So I mean, you could go maybe lakes of Alfie Hewett, who's done a really good job in a wheelchair tennis circuit. And this year, you know, he's just came off the back of a great success of the French Open. Winning English twin. I'm gonna probably get us wrong. 23 Grand Slam titles in total,
Daniel Kiernan 1:12:03
He won't be far off. I think him and Gordon have 13 or 14 together. Yeah. So I think
Dom Ionotti 1:12:08
you know, if they're great, you know, if he's a great guy, you know, I've had a chance to meet Alfie last year at Wimbledon, as well and you know, obviously, going into British number one wheelchair player world number one or two, I think as well, so he'd be a great guest as well. And even maybe like a famous Wimbledon legend could have even like, as well, like I turned him in or even gone bald. Roger Federer who's just recently retired, so
Daniel Kiernan 1:12:41
Well, what it didn't tell you Dom whoever you say you are responsible for getting on. I'll go back to the original question. I said what you're going to be doing for the next few months. I think what you're going to be doing is you're going to be hustling to try and get Roger Federer and Tim Henman's number to be able to live up to these to live up to these calls. Our fee, I've I've had a few we've almost arranged a few times, and it keeps slipping under the radar. He's been busy. So Alfie is the one that I will reach as Tim Henman. And if you listen and Tim, we've tried everything to get Tim on. Roger is the legend. And Dom is gonna go away and spend a few months to try and get that that is his next as his next job folks. Dom. You're a legend, man. Honestly, you've been you've been brilliant. And you know, we've had a lot of chat off air. I think your story is incredible. It is inspirational. It's also just you you know and that's the that's the beauty of it and the fact that you have been able to normalize so many so many things and and be able to get other people to normalize it as well and and that's why we need to hear from the likes of yourself and you know well done in all that you're doing you know keep keep keep doing your thing keep working hard on the court and keep working hard on spreading the spreading the good word and inspiring lives a big big thank you for coming on the podcast
Dom Ionotti 1:14:17
No thank you it's an absolute pleasure and you know, like I say there's no big massive thanks to yourself and everyone that sought or tennis Scotland you know, for for all the support and stuff and everyone back home as well from for supporting me and my journey and even my family, you know, for pushing me to, to come out to Spain and kind of you know, explore a little bit and experience and, and push myself a little bit more as well. And you know, I've learned a lot being out here I've grown as a person and you know, to get the chance to come on this podcast, and share my story and hopefully inspire you know, many people to take up sport or to take up you know, definitely territories and day life and hopefully I've with my story of our portfolio touched a few kind of people's emotions as well. So see I really thanks, Dan, I really appreciate everything you've done for me as well. And I post on the podcast as well. So thank you, Dom. And, as always a big welcome Vicki, it's great to have you here. And Dom did great, what a good lad to come on and, and speak so openly like that, you know, we've, I guess we've seen him over the last few months and growing in confidence here at the academy as well. And, and it was a big thing for him to come and speak to everybody on this subject, but absolutely fair play to him for doing so.
Victoria Kiernan 1:15:34
And not only did he have to speak once, but he had to do it all again. He had to tell it tell us his story twice. Unfortunately, the poor guy was in our house for three hours. I said to him beforehand, this is only the second time that we've done a live podcast. So you know, really special one and then ended up being the second time that we've had a recording issue. We had to do it all over again. So apologies Dom. The Stila still a question mark in this household over who knocked that plug out of the Mac, I'm still saying it's not me.
Daniel Kiernan 1:16:07
I won't be airing our dirty laundry in public Vicki. And I will I will I will move on from but yeah, but big thing for me there is is that I take from an on reflection, because it's a really reflective conversation, I think, you know, we, we crack on with our lives, and we don't always stop and, and think of other people's lives and, you know, having Dom around as being great for just opening our eyes and giving us that awareness. But I think as a parent that hits home to me, the fact that he was diagnosed so early. And and he was able to get those support systems in place, be able to be understood that the power of that is massive, because he's then being able to, to get his life and get his life in order and have people understanding, understanding his situation. And yeah, he's gone on and obviously having a very, very successful life as well,
Victoria Kiernan 1:17:06
I think he was so fortunate to have had that support network at such a young age, like you said, I mean, we have people in our life who are being diagnosed in their 40s 50s and 60s, and, and there's been this moment of, oh my gosh, this all makes sense. Now, if only I'd known when I was at school, if only I had known when I was growing up. I mean, I think it's it's with all of us, we're all trying to understand who we are, and why we tick the way that we do. And I think it's really important. But I also think I heard autism being described to some children the other day, and it was set in a really nice way of like, our brains, everyone's brains work differently. There's no right or wrong or better or worse, it's just different. And where one child might, one child might find really easy another one's struggles with and what the first child finds difficult, and the other child child might find really easy. And I thought it was a really nice way for it to be explained to these young children, but also to me, and the things that we find easy, great, there are strengths. And we can use those and make them even stronger. And the things that we find difficult, you know, that we work on, and we try and get better at to make our lives easier or to make life easier in the workplace or to make it easier at school or to make life easier with relationships. And yeah, Dom I think has been so lucky to have that from such a young age.
Daniel Kiernan 1:18:35
I think it's a really nice way of putting it and if I look at it from the perspective of a parent, but also as a coach, I think one of the biggest mistakes certainly I can only talk to talk about my personal experience is when you try and parent or you try and coach, someone assuming that they're like you. And it's it's really easy to see that through your lens. And I don't understand why can't Why aren't they doing that? Because that's what I do. And why aren't they learning that that way? Because that's how I learned. And it's certainly been some fun. I've got my experience maybe as a coach than a parent so far in this life, but it's that, that ability to be able to see it through the lens of the person that you're trying to help. And I suppose there is a there's a bit of a, you don't want to label people, there's a lot that say, Don't label children because it sticks a sticks a label on them, and they then end up conforming to that label. But the switch side of that is very much around the awareness and understanding and the teachers around the world that the tennis coaches around the world that have been scratching their heads, not being able to get through to a child but actually once you get that understanding, this is how their brain works. This is the way that you've got to try and help them. It just makes life a hell of a lot easier for everybody. So it's certainly I'd be I'd be on the side of if you can get that diagnosis it's something that's going to it's going to help everyone everyone's world a lot more than if not
Victoria Kiernan 1:20:17
And more awareness more education for coaches I think as well Dom mentioned it you know, and you both spoke about it about what what education there is on coaching courses and and also what opportunities are out there like you said at the start I didn't I didn't know there were the the Virtus games and the global games I didn't know anything about this. I mean, what amazing experiences there are out there for people with learning disabilities. And the next step like you said, would be amazing would be to be included in the Paralympics and we look at wheelchair tennis, the growth and the awareness and appreciation for wheelchair tennis has grown massively in the last 20 years. Look at the men's doubles final with Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid on Saturday. The crowds were going absolutely berserk. It was packed. It was amazing to see
Daniel Kiernan 1:21:07
It was actually it was it was on at the same time as the men's doubles final, which also had a Briton Neal Skupski so I was watching one on the TV and one on my phone. And the atmosphere was a much much better on court number one and the wheelchair final and it's Gordon said it in his in his interview after the match. He said he was welling up, they couldn't believe the atmosphere, you know, that just kind of took off that moment when they won and the rockets went in the air and they
Victoria Kiernan 1:21:37
Find that on Twitter online, just watch the crowd because yeah, the crowd it was amazing.
Daniel Kiernan 1:21:43
And what he said was the emotion because it was only a few years ago when he when he started to play wheelchair tennis that he was playing in front of a couple of men and and a dog you know, and that was that was the comment that he made and that was in professional events. You know, so how far that has come with the likes of Gordon with the likes of Alfie with the likes of Dylan all caught in Australia who was the face of the Australian Open last year. It really does show once it gets out there get into the media and the word has started to be spread that it takes off and we start to appreciate the skill level that goes with that and like you say, this is this is relatively relatively new, I believe, you know, and getting into the Paralympics, getting that push forward. For for Dom and for many, many others that will have the opportunity to play we we need to all get fully behind that.
Victoria Kiernan 1:22:42
I can't not mention Jordan Wiley there we're talking about wheelchair tennis who did so much for women's wheelchair tennis. She's a Brummie Well, technically she's from hell zone but a warrior player and she used to train all the time at billesley Tennis Center and she raised awareness massively in our area so like you said in the in the episode if you see it, you can be it and if we can grow awareness for tennis players with learning disabilities get the category in the Paralympics. Get the categories at Wimbledon would be amazing.
Daniel Kiernan 1:23:14
Absolutely. And we hope that we can use this platform to help with that a big big thank you Dom for coming on and, and for you guys looking out we've touched on Wimbledon there. God read alpha you and I are working really hard to get Gordon on tonight actually we are we are speaking with my amazing panel coming on to to dissect Wimbledon 2023 And we are looking out this is you're going to find out if I've got the power on I'm going to put some accountability out there. I'm trying to get Gordon to jump on and join the panel for five minutes. And I'm also trying to get Neal Skupski The men's doubles champion to jump on for five minutes to join the panel, which would be absolutely fantastic. But whenever I get them on not it will be a great conversation I know and look out for that one in the next few days. And then I am also speaking to Nigel Sears later this week and Nigel who has amazing a tennis coach as he's been. He is also the father in law of Andy Murray. I'll be picking his brain a little bit on Andy and Kim as well as his knowledge that he has accumulated over the last 30 years coaching at the very top of the game so lots more exciting episodes to come. But until next time, I'm Dan Kiernan and we are Control the Controllables
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