Dustin Brown: Locker Room
Originally published on 02/07/15
One thing that everyone knows about you is your campervan. Do you still have it?
I still have it at home, but I don’t use it at the moment. What colour is it? Does it have a name? It’s white. It’s never had a name. I’m not the type of guy to name cars or anything like that. I’m very thankful for those times [in the campervan] – without those times I probably wouldn’t be here. But now the tournaments are spread so far apart and playing bigger tournaments, being top 100, I have the benefit of being able to fly and stay in hotels.
What is your favourite city?
I don’t have one favourite because there are a lot of different things that come with tournaments and cities. Montego Bay [in Jamaica] being partly home is obviously for me a great city but for different reasons than for a tourist. I like Melbourne, even though it’s far to travel to. For me the tournaments in Germany – Halle, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich – are great because you have a lot of friends around and you have somewhat of a normal life during a tournament.
What’s your hotel room like? Are you a messy person or a bit of a neat freak?
Normally somewhere in the middle; I’m pretty sure there are people who are tidier than me, but it’s not like total chaos. I’m not the kind of guy to totally unpack the suitcase and put it in the closet, but when I get laundry cleaned I put it back in the suitcase.
You often head onto court with your headphones on. What are you listening to?
There’s a lot of hiphop, RnB and dance on my phone. It always depends, I’ve got different stuff for going on court, or during the day, but basically I’ve always got my headphones on. If I find a new album, it could be that I listen to one song quite a lot. I’ve got over 2,000 songs on my phone so a good selection.
Who’s the best singer on tour?
Good question. Definitely not me, I can’t sing. I’m not sure if I’ve heard anyone sing before.
Can you dance?
Nope. Gael Monfils is the best dancer.
What’s your idea of a perfect day?
With my closest friends and family, somewhere warm with nice food. I would get my dad to cook something Jamaican.
What about you, do you cook?
I’m learning. I have a friend back in Germany who is teaching me. We’re just starting so now every time I’m home we’re going to cook something. Hopefully at the end of this year I’ll be able to do a few things.
If you weren’t a tennis player, what would you be doing?
I’ve never really thought about it because I’ve been playing tennis since I was small. I would have to try to find something with a similar lifestyle, I’m not sure I could do a 9 to 5 office job.
When did you last cut your hair?
August 1996.
And how often do you wash it?
When it’s hot it’s easy to do; I just walk around and it dries but when I am in Germany in the winter it’s a pain to dry because it soaks up all the water and when my hair is wet it is really heavy and if I go out in the cold I get sick the next week.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
I know I didn’t feel that great when I lost 6-0 6-0 to Jerome Haehnel in Basel in the first round of qualies a few years ago. Besides that, I don’t get embarrassed that easily.
If you could have one luxury in life, what would it be?
I do a lot of things on my phone, music and writing and being online, so a never-ending battery on my phone. Never having to charge my phone would be great.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I watch a lot of TV series on my computer. If I’m at the airport or I’m in my room and I’ve got a bit of spare time I’ll put on the laptop and watch one of those series. Right now I’m watching Homeland, I’ve just finished Sons of Anarchy. There’s not much I haven’t seen.
This article originally appeared in tennishead Volume 6 Issue 1. For more great features, stunning imagery and interviews with the world's top players, subscribe to the magazine today or download the latest digital magazine, available on Apple and Android devices.
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