In Irish tennis it has always taken an adventurer, someone single minded, with a pioneering spirit to make the hard yards. Conor Niland was the first in decades to convert his air miles into success, James McGee followed this week.
But McGee's crusade and the attention it drew from the New York Times, Daily Telegraph and BBC is not yet over. In the mind of the former Belvedere College right hander, it is just beginning.
Why did an Irish player ranked 194 in the world make such glittering copy? It was because of his journey as a soloist through the back waters of the tennis tour, the off-grid countries on the rump of the professional game.
A year ago McGee was vomiting in Gambon. Now, after ex-pats swamped around court eight at Flushing Meadow to see his precious victory over China's Zhang Ze as cramping threatened to undo him, he was sharing a New York locker room with Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
After a seven-year career and five attempts at qualifying for a Grand Slam, McGee was, apart from Murray, the only male player from Ireland or Britain in the singles draw.
“I’ve made last round of qualifying of four ATP events this year but they were all, aside from the French Open, they weren’t big,” he says.
“But the quality of the US Open and the massive support was the highlight of my life and my career and I’m hoping for more.
“My targets were always high. I have always wanted to be a top 100 player and that’s been since day one. I sort of believed I would qualify for a Slam and it was really a matter of time.
A contender
“Now I want to be a contender at tournaments. I don’t want to just show up and participate. I want to enter tournaments and beat some of the best players in the world.”
The 27-year-old's ranking will go up a little but his climb towards a world ranking of around 100, he believes, is possible. More immediately, his next three events take place in California, starting in Nato and following on to Sacramento. Qualifying for the Australian Open in the New Year is a clear target on the horizon.
“I’m aware of the ranking but my philosophy has changed with regard to playing for money and ranking points,” he says. “When I played the Futures Tour (lowest level of professional tennis) and even the Challengers (a level up from Futures) a couple of years ago I was very much aware of the points and ranking. But it was just too much.
“Too much analysis. Too much focus. So I started to let go of that stuff and focused on playing good tennis. That was it. It’s really been working over the last year or so. My results and game have improved and you can see that.”
Stepping it up
McGee also knows he has to get better. His pressing need is to be better prepared for qualification events, which are three matches, and then step up to face top 50 or 100 ranked players.
He concedes fitness for Grand Slam tennis needs work to accommodate the physical brand of game he plays. Defeat in the US Open first round highlighted that.
It’s less a criticism of his game and more awareness of what he needs to do to bridge the gap. Reinvigorated ambition and his natural hunger to make this life-defining odyssey a success will ensure little is over looked.
“My goal is to physically get much better,” he says. “I’d be very fit but I need to get even fitter in order to win at this level. There is an extra level.
“I want to push it to the limit with my ability. I want to reach the highest level of the game. I want to beat top players. I don’t want to just show up for a Slam and beat one guy ranked 100, then lose to some guy ranked 50 . . . It comes down to belief and hard work. I’m going to go for it and keep believing in myself.”
It takes some €130,000 to play for a year with a coach. Often McGee doesn’t have a coach. He doesn’t stay in good hotels. He worries about equipment, health, costs.
He has private sponsors and the $35,000 from the US Open will help. But he’s been at it too long for tears or self pity.
“I can really do this,” he says. “I really think I can punch towards the top.”
