He has won a gold medal, and he is one of only a few tennis players in history to have won all four Grand Slams. And now Daniel Nestor, local tennis pro, has been named to the Order of Canada.
Nestor, who grew up in North York and got his start at the Bayview Village Tennis Club, has won 71 men’s double titles, including six Grand Slam titles and a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Nestor and his doubles partner, Nenad Zimonjic, wrapped up the year as the number two doubles team in the world.
Hatem McDadi, Tennis Canada’s vice-president of tennis development, has known Nestor for 25 years, as a fellow competitor, coach and friend. “He really is a great role model,” said McDadi.
“In addition to his tennis accomplishments, any fundraiser we’ve asked him to do, he’s been there.”
McDadi said, despite Nestor’s numerous medals, his personality hasn’t changed. “He remains very loyal, generous, very kind to his friends, and he has strong family values.”
Nestor lives in the Bahamas with his wife and three children.