Martin damm sr

All England Club: American rising star Martin Damm says a career-threatening injury transformed both his outlook and his game after securing his maiden main-draw victory at Wimbledon. Speaking after his opening-round win at the All England Club, the 6-foot-8 right-hander reflected on his lengthy rehabilitation, his pursuit of a maiden Top 100 ranking, and the influence of his father, former world No. 5 doubles player Martin Damm Sr., as he continues his breakthrough season on the ATP Tour.

Damm admitted the emotions after his victory were driven not only by the result but also by how close it had brought him to a significant career milestone. The 21-year-old also explained that while the ankle injury, which derailed his progress in late 2024, was difficult to endure, it ultimately changed the way he approached both tennis and life.

“The Top 100 is definitely a big reason. It was a big injury, but it's in the past now. I don't really like to focus on it too much or think about it, but I do think that injury helped me grow as a person and as a player as well. It made me take a step back in life and view things differently,” Damm told ATP.com.