Harri Heliövaara became number one in the world and says he won in life

Harri Heliövaaran it’s easy to smile.

Heliövaara, 37, has just returned to Finland from the French Open. Noise hazard and Henry Patten lost in the men’s doubles final Marcel Granollersille and Horacio Zeballosille erin 0–2 (4–6, 2–6).

Despite the loss, a smiling man sits on the Kalastajantorpa tennis courts. The place in the final secured the rise of Heliövaara and Patten to the top of the doubles ATP ranking.

“Yes, there is still a bit of a feeling of disbelief about how this happened,” Heliövaara laughs.

“I wouldn’t have believed this a few years ago.”

Last year, the first place in the ranking was already close. It increased the duo’s hunger even more. According to Heliövaara, they have been actively aiming for the top spot in the ranking for the past year and a half.

“The sense of fulfillment that has resulted from this is quite wonderful.”

Noise hazard and Patten started their joint journey in the spring of 2024.

At that time, Heliövaara was ranked 39th and Patten was ranked 63rd. From there began a steady rise towards the top of the tennis world.

The duo won their first two ATP tournaments played together. Later in July, the Wimbledon men’s doubles win clicked. At the same time, the foundation was laid for rising to the top of the ranking.

“I can reveal that the name of our team Whatsapp group is Road to Number One. I don’t remember who named the group, but it’s quite apt,” says Heliövaara.

The group includes Heliövaara, Patten, coaches and a physiotherapist. The group’s original name was Road to Wimbledon. After the 2024 tournament victory, it was changed to its current name.

So what will be the name of the group next?

“I brought up that question in the group, but a new name hasn’t been invented yet. It’s definitely very high on my priority list,” Heliövaara laughs.

Laughing you wouldn’t immediately notice from the tennis star that it’s less than a week since the stinging Grand Slam final loss.

Heliövaara admits that the loss took him very hard.

“Perhaps enough time has already passed here. To be honest, the flight back to Finland had a terrible feeling,” says Heliövaara.

“Simply put, it was a bad match. I wasn’t at my best.”

Heliövaara says that the feeling was contradictory, because the first place in the ranking was already secured after the semi-final. According to Heliövaara, the loss ate at the man perhaps even more than usual.

“Fortunately, there is now reason to celebrate here, the sadness of the defeat will go away faster now. The pride and the feeling of success will be felt for longer.”

The final loss of the French Open was quickly played out between Heliövaara and Patten. The same routine is repeated after each match.

“We discuss the successes and what could have been done better. Now in France we talked more about the mental side, which is highlighted in the matches. I don’t think it was present enough in the final,” says Heliövaara.

“Henry and I are able to take and give each other honest feedback. We try to be as good partners to each other as possible.”

Outside of tennis, the two also spend time together on golf courses and visiting restaurants. Heliövaara says that the duo’s chemistry matches perfectly and the losses do not erode their friendship.

Or brotherhood as Heliövaara himself expresses it.

French the second place in the open brought the double team a nice prize pool of 300,000 euros. Before the tournament in France, Heliövaara had earned about 580,000 euros in prize money this season.

Heliövaara admits that he is aware of how much money can be won from a single tournament, but says that money is not the most important motivator for him.

Now he is motivated by longer-term goals, such as the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

“The ranking pressure is now completely gone. It’s a liberating feeling. I’m now focusing on the competitions where I really want to succeed.”

Heliövaara already ended his professional career once in 2013. He returned to the field four years later.

He thinks for a long time about what kind of greetings he would send to his 24-year-old self, who is planning to end his career.

“I would tell him to do exactly what you’re doing. I don’t know if I’d be here now if I hadn’t stopped my career for a while.”

And what should the 37-year-old Heliövaara not forget about this moment?

“The feeling I talked about at the beginning of the interview. That I have won in life.”