Izmir firefighter coaches daughter to tennis success

Ramazan Karakoç, a 44‑year‑old fire department employee for the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, spends his workdays rescuing lives. After his shift he devotes his free time to coaching his 9‑year‑old daughter Miray in tennis.

Karakoç became a certified tennis coach in 2016 after completing the Turkish Tennis Federation’s training program. Miray began playing at age four and now trains five days a week, with additional sessions alongside her father twice a week. She competes in provincial and inter‑provincial tournaments, where she has collected multiple cups and medals. Karakoç says the discipline required in firefighting mirrors that of tennis, noting that “firefighting requires strength, agility and practical intelligence; in this respect it is very similar to tennis.”