Jerome Kym striking to the beat of his own drum

ATP Tour

Surging Swiss Kym striking to the beat of his own drum

Learn more about the surging Swiss

Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images for ITF Jerome Kym, pictured representing Switzerland in Davis Cup action earlier this year. By Andrew Eichenholz

Plenty of ATP Tour stars have played music over the years, from John McEnroe to Bob and Mike Bryan and more recently the likes of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ugo Humbert and singer Lorenzo Sonego. Now, the tennis world can add a drummer to the list.

Jerome Kym, the No. 175 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, is competing in his first major main draw in the US Open and he is leaving a mark on the Flushing Meadows courts like the one he does on his drum. Kym’s father, Ivan, was the best Swiss drummer for many years, and the 22-year-old has followed in his footsteps.

“[At an] early age, he gave me the drum sticks, and then I tried with him early practice,” Kym said. “It’s not like with Guns N’ Roses, the normal drums. It's one drum you wear and [use] two sticks. I was getting better and better every year and then I stepped up in his footsteps because he retired like 10 years ago. I'm not a bad drummer, I would say.”

Growing up, Kym played tennis and football at the same time, so drumming was relegated to a hobby. Although the Swiss dedicates much of his time to his profession, he still enjoys drumming.

“I have two sticks here with me, and if I have some free time, I drum on the bed on the sofa, so it’s easygoing,” Kym said. “But then my parents told me I needed to decide what I wanted to do. So first I played soccer for two, three months and then I switched to tennis. I don't know why, but there's always a reason and now I play tennis.”

That does not mean drumming is out of the rotation. When his schedule allows, Kym still competes in drumming competitions in Switzerland.

“I like challenges, I like competition. And in Swiss drumming, it works like this: You have a Group A and B. Then you have the first round, and then the best of the first round, the best 10 drummers from A and the best drummers from B, settle into a final,” Kym said. “Then [they] drum for the title. So it's a competition and [I am] a competition guy.”

Four years ago, Kym was a training partner at the Nitto ATP Finals during the season finale’s first edition held in Turin. But it in June 2023, he hit a stumbling block in his progression.

“I had a knee surgery on my patella ligament in front of my kneecap. I went through heavy times, three months with the crutches. And after three and a half months, I could start walking without [them]. And went into rehab, water training in the pool. [We used] electromagnets,” Kym said. “I went through a difficult rehab time. Came back, won an [ITF World Tennis Tour event]. I just took week by week, saw how I processed and I'm happy to be in the second round here.”

Kym is happy with what he has achieved, which has helped him climb to No. 161 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The two-time ATP Challenger Tour titlist is not looking back at his struggles or what possibly is ahead, instead choosing to soak in the present.

“It's very special for me personally, because, as I've said, I went through difficult times, also this year, like four to five weeks sick at home, tried to come back, didn't play well,” said Kym, who faces Brandon Nakashima in the second round Wednesday. “I had pressure from my team. I needed to play better, but sometimes you need pressure to perform. I just take it day by day and I’m happy to be here.”

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