Patten’s life could have been very different.
After studying finance at university in the United States, he was offered a job with Ernst & Young during the Covid pandemic.
But he was also given an opportunity to play a few professional tennis tournaments and chose that route instead.
“Thank God I made that decision,” he said. “I am so relieved I did.”
“I remember I played in India at some 15k events to start with and it’s been quite a journey.”
He joined forces with Heliovaara in April last year and they won their first ATP title together in Marrakech.
“We get along really well,” said Patten.
“As a tennis player you talk a lot with your partner and we are best friends. That’s the secret.”
Patten’s two Grand Slam trophies are kept on the top shelf at home and admits they badly need a polish as he pursues the target of becoming the world’s number one ranked doubles player.
“It’s been a wild ride,” he added.
“We are trying to keep pressing on and are hunting the world number one spot [together] and I am currently three.
“There will be high pressure to defend the trophy, but I am incredibly excited. There are lots of ranking points to defend but my name will always be there however we do.”
