The Guy Behind Your Wimbledon Coverage (And Why He Almost Became a Lawyer Instead)

By Lewis Barnett 3 July, 2025 5 mins read 31 Views

Look, I'll be honest with you.

Until about three weeks ago, I had no clue who was actually presenting half the Wimbledon coverage I've been watching for years. Then my mate Dave (who works in sports media and thinks he knows everything) made some comment about "that Persad bloke" during a pub quiz, and I realized I'd been seeing this guy's face on my TV for literally decades without knowing his story. Turns out it's actually pretty fascinating.

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Caribbean Kid Who Could've Been in Court Instead of Centre Court

Rishi Persad was born May 25, 1974, on the island of Trinidad - and here's where it gets interesting. His parents weren't media people at all. Mum was a bank manager, dad was a lawyer, both of Indian descent. Classic immigrant success story, right? But get this - they bred horses on teh side. Just as a hobby.

That little detail would end up changing everything.

The family moved Rishi to Britain when he was just 12 (can you imagine?), stuck him in boarding school, and he eventually got his law degree from King's College London. Following in dad's footsteps, sensible career path, all that. Except... he was apparently rubbish at wanting to actually practice law.

Thank God for that, honestly.

2002: The Year Everything Changed

Instead of becoming another lawyer nobody remembers, Persad took a massive leap in 2002 and joined "At the Races" - which is now Sky Sports Racing for those keeping track. His first proper gig was covering the thing his family literally bred in their backyard.

By 2003, Channel 4 had snatched him up for Cheltenham Festival coverage. And apparently he was good at it. Really good.

The rest, as they say, is broadcasting history.

Four Olympics and Counting (Plus Every Other Sport You Can Think Of)

Here's what blew my mind when I actually looked into this guy's resume: he's covered FOUR different Olympic Games. Athens, London, Beijing, Rio. The Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Wimbledon (obviously). The US Masters. The Open. The Ryder Cup.

But wait, there's more! (I sound like a terrible infomercial, but seriously...)

He covered the 2007 Cricket World Cup back in his home Caribbean, then the following year in the sub-continent. The man gets around.

And the horse racing? Well, that childhood hobby turned into covering literally every major race you've heard of:

Breeders Cup at Arlington, Santa Anita, Hong Kong International Meeting, Dubai World Cup, Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe, The Grand National, Cheltenham Festival (full circle moment there), Derby Festival, Royal Ascot, and QIPCO British Champions Day.

Honestly, at this point I'm wondering if there's any major sporting event this guy hasn't covered.

The Family Man Who Keeps Things Quiet

Here's where the story gets a bit more normal, thankfully. Rishi's married to Holly Persad, they've got a daughter named Evie, and they live in Surrey. Pretty standard stuff for a successful TV presenter, really.

What I respect is that he keeps his personal life properly private - none of this social media oversharing nonsense. You won't find him posting breakfast photos or humble-bragging about his latest assignment.

Just does his job, does it well, and goes home to his family.

Which, in 2024, feels almost revolutionary.

Next time you're watching Wimbledon coverage and you see that familiar face, you'll know you're looking at someone who could've been arguing cases in court but chose to chase stories around the world instead. And honestly? We're all better off for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of fitness training is essential for tennis players

Tennis is a physically demanding sport that requires a combination of aerobic endurance, anaerobic fitness, speed, strength, and power. Fitness training for tennis players often encompasses cardiovascular exercises to improve endurance, plyometric and explosive exercises for speed and power, weight training for strength, as well as agility drills to enhance footwork and on-court movement. The core stability exercises and balance drills are important for developing the muscular endurance, coordination, and strength necessary to handle the physical demands in tennis.

How can tennis players balance their training with schoolwork?

Balance between academic obligations and intensive training schedules can be difficult for aspiring players. Time management, prioritization skills and sometimes creative scheduling are required. Flexible academic programs and online schooling can accommodate the busy training and traveling schedules of young athletes. The support of family, coaches, educational institutions, and other stakeholders is also crucial to ensuring that athletes can achieve their athletic dreams without compromising on their education.

How important is it for you to compete at junior tournaments if you want a career as a professional tennis player?

Competing in junior tournaments is a crucial step in the journey to a professional tennis career. These tournaments offer young athletes the opportunity to prove their abilities against their peers and gain valuable match-experience. They can also learn to deal with the psychological demands that come with competitive play. Junior tournaments also serve as a stepping stone to higher-level competitions and can significantly impact a player's ranking, visibility to coaches and sponsors, and their overall development as a player.

When can a player start training to improve their chances of becoming a pro?

It is not necessary to wait until a certain age before you start your professional tennis career. However, beginning early can be a great advantage. Many professional tennis players begin training in their early teens. Early development allows players a foundation of coordination, technique, and skills. It's important to balance the training with childhood development in order to foster a love for the sport without injury or burnout.

How does mental and psycho-social training affect tennis training?

Tennis requires mental and psychological training as much as physical training. The player must be able to control stress, maintain concentration, and manage the emotional highs, and lows, of competition. Visualization, goal-setting and mental rehearsals can be common techniques. A sports psychologist helps players to build resilience, develop strategies for dealing with pressure and raise their mental game.

Statistics

Research indicates that junior tennis players who compete in international tournaments gain significant psychological advantage and experience, with participation leading to a 50% better transition into professional rankings.
Top tennis players typically train for 4 to 6 hours per day, divided between on-court practice and fitness training.
On average, it's estimated that only 1 in 5000 high-level junior tennis players will develop into internationally ranked professionals.
Persistent mental training and sports psychology can help reduce performance anxiety by up to 60%, according to sports psychologists working with elite athletes.
Strength and conditioning coaches emphasize core strength, noting that an increase in core stability can improve shot accuracy by up to 43%.

External Links

How To

Tennis Footwork & Court Movement: Master the Art!

Conditioning is the first step to mastering tennis footwork. Improve your lateral movement and linearity by adding agility drills such as ladder and cone drills to your routine. Split stepping, a short hop done as the opponent hits a ball, will allow you to move into your next position quickly. Improve your ability of recovering quickly from every shot with dynamic drills. Develop a focus on balance and coordination exercises. Finaly, when playing a match, try to be aware of how you move and position yourself in the most optimal way, allowing yourself ample time to hit every ball comfortably.