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Late F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Star Matthew Perry’s Love for Tennis Laid Bare in a Candid Memoir From His School Days

Published Oct 30, 2023 | 11:25 PM EDT

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The late ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ actor, Matthew Perry, often kept audiences in splits with his witty one-liners as Chandler Bing. But did you know, behind those laughs lay a dream deeply rooted in the tennis courts? A recently surfaced school note offers a poignant glimpse into a young Perry’s ambitions, far removed from the spotlight of Hollywood. As fans worldwide remember him, this discovery underscores the duality of a star who once yearned for success on the tennis court.

Who knew that beneath the witty veneer of ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ star Matthew Perry lay a fervent tennis aficionado? While Perry’s dreams of tennis stardom may have been sidelined, his legacy on the court remains undeniable. As the world mourns this beloved actor, the tennis community, from legends like Chris Evert to fans like Iga Swiatek, feels a unique pang of loss. How did Perry’s early passion for tennis intertwine with his iconic Hollywood journey?

Unveiling Chandler’s secret: Matthew Perry’s hidden tennis dream surfaces

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The entertainment world mourned the sudden loss of Matthew Perry, the beloved sitcom actor known for his dry wit and effusive charm. And yet, few know that beyond his fame and portrayal of Chandler Bing, Perry harbored a profound passion for tennis. This affection became especially evident during his attendance at the French Open‘s semifinals this year. Starting as early as four, Perry’s dedication saw him training nearly 10 hours daily which propelled him into becoming Ottawa’s second-best junior player by age 13.

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A touching reminder of this passion recently emerged on Reddit, where a handwritten school note by a young Perry was shared. Featuring a youthful photograph, the note states,Meet Matthew Perry! He’s here to introduce himself in his very own handwriting”. The Reddit thread captioned this note of Perry with, “Ambition: Professional Tennis Player. Handwritten by the late Mathew Perry [RIP].” This intimate snippet from the late actor’s life offers fans a heartfelt glimpse into his early dreams, painting a picture of a young boy with aspirations beyond the silver screen.

While Perry’s early endeavors in tennis may not have reached global acclaim, they paved the way for a different kind of international stardom. As the tennis world now pays tribute, it’s evident that his passion for the sport left a lasting impression.

Matthew Perry may have moved from tennis dreams to Hollywood stardom, but the sport remembers him

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Matthew Perry loved tennis and dreamed of going big in the sport. But after a tough loss in a Los Angeles match, he realized that being a top tennis player in Canada wasn’t the same as making it big worldwide. This setback in tennis, though, opened doors for his successful acting career. He once joked that his tennis ranking in Canada was like being good at hockey in a warm place like Burbank.

The tennis community mourns the loss of Matthew Perry, a known enthusiast of the sport. Tennis legend Chris Evert expressed her sorrow on X (formerly known as Twitter), while Canadian star Denis Shapovalov paid his respects on Instagram. Even Iga Swiatek, a huge fan of his beloved TV show, reminisced about being pleasantly distracted once during a match upon spotting Perry in the audience. Perry’s deep love for tennis resonated with players around the world, making his passing all the more poignant.

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Matthew Perry’s tennis aspirations remind us that before the Hollywood glitz and glamor, there was a love for the court beyond measure. The world is grieving the iconic actor, leaving us wondering further still: what dreams and passions do our favorite stars harbor beyond the screen?

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Written by:

Akshata Aditya Rajmane

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Akshata Aditya Rajmane is a tennis writer at EssentiallySports. Right from her early childhood, Akshata has been a sports enthusiast, following a variety of sports, including badminton, tennis, and soccer. Although she is an ardent fan of the "Big Three", at ES, she is focused on covering the off-court activities of the biggest ATP and WTA stars.
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Edited by:

Mitali Dey