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Welsh tennis ace now mega rich with own yacht business after famous win over Wimbledon star
Welsh tennis ace now mega rich with own yacht business after famous win over Wimbledon star
Welsh star Ian Flanagan was once hailed as one of the UK's brightest tennis players, yet after injury curtailed his career at just 22 he has built a business that is on its way to being worth £1billion
Ian Flanagan beat Mark Philippoussis in 2004
(Image: Getty )
Ian Flanagan, once a rising star in British tennis, is now at the head a burgeoning business with a projected value of £800million.
Originating from Graianrhyd, Wales, his potential as a future Grand Slam contender was cut short by injuries at 22. Flanagan has since founded a Manchester-based yacht accounting software firm.
His enterprise, Voly, started in 2016 and is renowned as a financial management solution for superyacht owners, but Flanagan's career trajectory could have diverged significantly. He was a junior tennis prodigy at age 15, with his gold medal victory at the Youth Olympics in 1996 cemented his budding status.
Yet it was his upset over Wimbledon 2003 finalist, Mark Philippoussis, at Queen's Club in 2004 that truly put the limelight on Flanagan. The now 43-year-old has recently shared insights about his transition from tennis professional to a high-flying business guru, reports the Express.
"I got injured and had to stop, but I'd always been somewhat entrepreneurial," he told Insider recently. "Even as a kid, I loved figuring out ways to make money."
Today, Voly stands distinct as a robust brand, and what began as an eight-person team has expanded to a workforce of 130, addressing clients globally. Flanagan's current ambition is directed towards propelling Voly to the prestigious £1billion mark.
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He explained the origins of his enterprise, adding: "We recognised a gap in the market to professionalise yacht management, knowing that while captains are experts at navigation, they aren't CFOs or finance directors."
Despite beating ex-Romanian star Victor Hanescu, after the huge victory over Philippoussis, Flanagan was sensationally denied a wildcard into Wimbledon in 2004. "It was unbelievable that I didn't get a Wimbledon wildcard. The LTA [Lawn Tennis Association] need to take a good hard look at themselves,' he told the BBC at the time.
Flanagan made a splash early on in his tennis career
(Image: Getty )
Nevertheless, Flanagan has come to view his past achievements with a sense of fulfillment, acknowledging that he's "been there, done that." Yet he credits the traits honed on the tennis courts as the driving forces behind his current success.
"The most important factor that got me here and helped me build the company is a relentless need to win," he added.
"I hate losing. I don't even let my kids win when we play football, tennis, cricket, or even Dobble. The day they beat me, they'll know it's because they did it fair and square.
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"That competitive streak has pushed me through setbacks like failed investments and business ventures which haven't worked out. In professional tennis, you don't win every match. You lose, lose, win, win again, lose again, then win. It's a cycle, and business is similar."
And he managed to squeeze in a tennis analogy while expressing his ambition to excel in business. "If you sit back and say, 'That's a great business, I'll rest on my laurels,' you end up losing," he added.
"Take Carlos Alcaraz this weekend. If he stops training for six to 12 weeks, he's not going to win Wimbledon. He won't be in shape, he won't be ready."
