Why Matthew Perry once gave up trying to be a professional tennis player and went into acting

Matthew Perry, best-known for playing Chandler Bing in the ’90s TV sitcom Friends, was an incredibly talented actor.

Perry, who passed away in 2023, also had a huge passion for tennis, having started playing the sport at a young age.

The American-Canadian was raised in Ottawa, and was a top-ranked junior player at the age of 13.

However, when he moved to Los Angeles in his teenage years, the dream of becoming a professional tennis player went away.

Why Matthew Perry did not become a professional tennis player

As per Tennis 365, in 2012, Perry said: “Giving up tennis wasn’t really a decision I had to make. I was a very good tennis player in Ottawa, Canada—nationally ranked when I was, like, 13.

“Then I moved to Los Angeles when I was 15, and everyone in L.A. just killed me. I was pretty great in Canada. Not so much in Los Angeles. It was insane. I realised I wouldn’t be playing tennis for a living, so I went for acting.

“Are tennis and acting alike? I don’t know. They’re both very mental games. They’re both very heavy things to be a part of.

“I’m hoping the competitiveness that I had as a tennis player is gone now as I get older.

“When I was in my 20s, I wanted to do better than everybody else. Now, I just sort of want everybody to be successful.”

What is the next big tennis tournament?

A month after the conclusion of the Australian Open, the first ATP Masters 1000 of the season is about to get underway in Indian Wells.

Several big names are set to feature at the tournament, including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

The defending champion in Indian Wells is Britain’s Jack Draper, who defeated Danish star Holger Rune in the final last year.

Indian Wells will also be the host of the third WTA 1000 event of the year, following the Qatar Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships.