SET THE STANDARD #13: MAX PURCELL

"I've had a tennis racket in my hand ever since I can remember."

Max Purcell is professionial tennis player from Sydney, Australia. Emerging from a family deeply rooted in the sport, Max's journey in tennis began at the tender age of 3, sharing the court with his siblings. Max has been playing professionally since 2016, but it wasn't until 2023 that he has truly captured attention.

Reflecting on his early motivation, Max expressed, "I mostly just stayed in it because I was winning a lot of matches when I was younger growing up, but also because I got time off school." He added,"I just love the fact that I got to do something other than sit in the classroom. I just love being in the sun, and I love competing. Obviously, there's tough times, but, you know, I love it."

His professional tennis journey has been marked by steady progress, breaking into the singles Top 200 in 2021, reached the Top 100 in March 2023, and has achieved a career-high ranking of No. 40 in October 2023. He has etched his name into the sport's history with a series of remarkable achievements, including winning the 2022 Wimbledon Men's Doubles title, a finals appearance in the 2022 Australian Open Men's Doubles, and reaching the quarterfinals in the Cincinnati Masters tournament. He has also defeated the likes of #5 ranked Kevin Anderson and #6 ranked Gael Monfils to reach his first ATP Tour semifinals in Eastbourne in 2021. Notably, Max stepped into the limelight at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, where he replaced the legendary Andy Murray and secured a significant victory by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the first round, marking a pivotal moment in his burgeoning career.

In the dynamic and often competitive world of professional tennis, Max stands out not only for his talent on the court but also for his distinct personality. Describing himself as a "huge smart arse" who refuses to conform to the conventional molds, Max embraces his uniqueness as a defining feature of his character. His self-awareness and authenticity shine through as he expresses a genuine desire to bring laughter to every room he enters.

"Outside of tennis I really don't take things too seriously. I'm definitely a huge smart arse and don't quite fit into the cookie cutter mold, but I like being unique and hopefully I make everyone laugh in the room, and that's all I really care about to be honest."

Beyond the humor, however, lies a dedicated athlete who underscores the importance of hard work at the core of his identity.

"At the bottom of it I just like working hard."

Max's goal is clear – to win every single point.

"On court I'm all tunnel vision, really focused, and very locked in."

"I try and just leave no point aside. Like I go out there and I want to win every single point."

"And when you do win that match that you like put so much power into... man, it's the best feeling ever."

Felt inspired and want to see more? Check out EP.12 with Shanea Pagels

We have recently launched our new platform LSKD.TV which hosts an assortment of some of our favourite short videos including those featuring the amazing individuals in our LSKD Athlete Team.