Lee Duck-hee has made history as the first deaf tennis player to win an ATP Tour main draw match, defeating Henri Laaksonen 7-6(4) 6-1 in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina.
The South Korean, 21, who is ranked 212th in the world hit a milestone moment in his career and has shown his peers that it is achievable.
When playing, Lee relies on signals and gestures for information as he cannot hear the calls from umpires and judges.
“People made fun of me for my disability. They told me I shouldn’t be playing,” Lee said.
"It was definitely difficult, but my friends and family helped me get through. I wanted to show everyone that I could do this.
“My message for people who are hearing impaired is to not be discouraged. If you try hard, you can do anything,” the player added.
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