Peter Luczak reached a career high of 69 in the World Tennis Rankings last year. A powerful right handed player with a big forehand, Luczak is now a key member of our Davis Cup squad following the retirements of several experienced players. Luczak was born in Poland and moved to Australia as an infant. He is steadily making a comeback from a pelvic injury that played havoc with his career at the end of last year, and has thrown himself into tennis’ Challenger tournaments where he has won 10 titles around the world and is now currently ranked in the top 100. He gets comfort from lonely stints overseas with the knowledge that his sister in law lives next door to his wife (Katty) and his mother is around the corner, giving him a peace of mind and great family network. Although, Luczak admits the toughest part of being a professional tennis player is the fact his son, Sebastien, got upset with him for being away from home for too long recently, refusing to talk to his dad on the phone.

Besides their birth, obviously, what is your most memorable moment with your kids?
Birthdays are pretty special but since I don’t get to see them as often as I’d like everyday I do get to spend with them feels pretty memorable. Actually when I come home from a trip and I’m walking out from the airport and Sebastian comes running at me full pelt with a massive grin on his face, it’s hard to beat. – Peter Luczak

How often do you talk to the kids when you are on an away trip?
I try to talk to Sebastian everyday and Millie is 5 months at the moment so still a bit young. It never fails to cheer me up hearing the little buggers voice on the phone. – Peter Luczak

What makes him such a great father?
His devotion to the kids is unbelievable. He loves mucking up with Sebastian so much so to the extent that I sometimes have to send them out of the house so that Millie and I can have some peace and quiet. Also since I am alone much of the time, as soon as Peter is home or we are with him he takes the kids for a walk if the wake up early so that I can have a little sleep in. Sebastian adores him! – Katty Luczak

How hard is it when he has to be away from home on tour etc?
I am so used to it from the beginning that I don’t really reflect on it. People often ask me how I cope being alone a lot with the kids, but it is actually not so bad. We live next door to my sister and my mum is close as well so I have a great network to help if I need some extra sleep. In the end I think that we spend more time together than most families because when we are in Australia for 3 months we are around each other 24/7 and when we travel we spend so much time together. – Katty Luczak

Any Philips products you like?
I do like the electric shavers....they are brilliant when travelling. I will have to upgrade though to the Rolls Royce of shavers, the Philips arcitec. – Peter Luczak