Queenstown-raised tennis professional Ben McLachlan, who has just called time on his career, took on promising youngster Kai Milburn, also of Queenstown, in a fundraising match in the resort last night.
It was a tough battle, but there will not be any more for the time being for McLachlan, as the 31-year-old slips into retirement.
The doubles specialist, who won seven ATP titles, $2.5 million in prize money and a career-high world ranking of 18, said he had been thinking of pulling the pin for the past two years.
"The only thing that made me question it is just ’cos I’m still young for the doubles game, I guess.
"But at the same time, I did spend 10 years on tour and that was, for me, I think, enough time, especially when you’re from New Zealand and I’m only coming home for the offseasons."
Another factor, McLachlan said was he was not doing as well, "and maybe that’s part of the reason I wasn’t enjoying the tennis and competing as much as I did before".
Yet another factor was his wife and fitness trainer Georgia’s pregnancy — "that made me want to come back and settle here because that would be quite tough on the tour".
The couple have bought a Fernhill two-bedroom house they were busily renovating, and are also training up their 2-month-old English springer spaniel cross, Milo.
"I was just saying to Georgia ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been so busy in my life’.
"In terms of plans, there’s not a whole lot, to be honest.
"I just wanted to come back and take a bit of time to kind of do some soul-searching and figure out what’s next."
Coaching was definitely a possibility, he said.
He was impressed with Queenstown Tennis Club’s rising talent — "I would like to help out when I can".
Looking back, he said making the semifinals of a grand slam, with new partner Jan-Lennard Struff, in his first grand slam, the 2018 Australian Open, was a big highlight — "that was a huge shock to, I think, everyone, myself included".
Making some other grand slam quarters was also a highlight, "and just getting to travel with Georgia, [brother and coach] Riki and having my parents [Yuriko and Craig] come to support me in Europe".
McLachlan made waves when he switched his allegiance to Japan in 2017, thanks to his mum’s nationality, but he had no doubt it benefited his tennis. He represented his adopted country at Davis Cup and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
So would he ever consider a comeback?
"At this stage, no, but things change.
"Obviously I could try to go back — there’s still time."
