24-05-2025
AP PHOTOS: Blind Tennis Naqi's Journey
Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi holds onto the net during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi and tennis coach Lee Neale walk on court during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Key rings hang from the bag of blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi at a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi is assisted by his wife Zara as he prepares for a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Marvel Opara, left, and Yasmina Sekkat, right, who are both partially sighted, attend a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Yasmina Sekkat, who is partially sighted, plays a shot during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Tennis coach, Lee Neale, shows a ball used for visually impaired tennis during a training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Odette Battarel, who is partially sighted, plays a shot during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Marvel Opara, who is partially sighted, serves the ball during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Marvel Opara, who is partially sighted, reaches out to take a ball as she attends a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi holds onto the net during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi and tennis coach Lee Neale walk on court during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Key rings hang from the bag of blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi at a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi is assisted by his wife Zara as he prepares for a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Marvel Opara, left, and Yasmina Sekkat, right, who are both partially sighted, attend a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Yasmina Sekkat, who is partially sighted, plays a shot during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Tennis coach, Lee Neale, shows a ball used for visually impaired tennis during a training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Odette Battarel, who is partially sighted, plays a shot during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Marvel Opara, who is partially sighted, serves the ball during a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Marvel Opara, who is partially sighted, reaches out to take a ball as she attends a visually impaired tennis training session in London, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
London (AP) — Naqi Rizvi loves the 'absolute freedom' he feels on the tennis court. Winning titles is fun, too.
The 34-year-old, blind tennis champion is on a mission to not only raise awareness but also elevate the sport into the Paralympics in the future. The London resident, fully blind from the age of 7 because of congenital glaucoma, only took up the sport a decade ago and is now the No. 1-ranked men's player in the world for his category.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
