Fri Mar 14 17:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Comedian Michael Kosta Celebrates “Lucky Loser” Status, Finds Common Ground with Tennis Players

**Palm Springs, CA** – Comedian Michael Kosta, former University of Illinois tennis player, and author of the new memoir “Lucky Loser,” was at the BNP Paribas Open this week promoting his book. The Daily Show correspondent discussed the parallels between his experiences in professional tennis and his successful comedy career.

Kosta, who reached a world ranking of only 864 during his two-year professional tennis stint, highlighted the similarities between the two disciplines: “Comedy’s a lot like tennis. You need reps, you lose a lot… but it’s personal. It came from your heart, your soul, your mind.” He even confessed to bombing so badly that he needed to change his socks afterward.

While at the tournament, Kosta engaged in insightful conversations with fellow “lucky losers,” including top 100 player Eva Lys. Lys, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open after initially being a lucky loser, shared her experience of overcoming self-doubt. Kosta offered encouragement, stating, “Next year at this time, let’s not be talking lucky loser, let’s be talking main draw without even doing qualies!”

Kosta also shared his observations on the tennis world, commenting on recent headlines such as Jannik Sinner’s doping suspension and Venus Williams’ wildcard entry. He even crowned Andrey Rublev the funniest professional tennis player, citing his unintentionally hilarious antics during filming for Tennis Channel’s “Warm & Fuzzy.” He also praised Madison Keys and Coco Gauff for their comedic timing.

Kosta’s memoir chronicles his journey of failure in professional tennis and his subsequent success in comedy, showcasing how setbacks can lead to unexpected triumphs. He considers his tennis experiences the foundation of his comedic persona.

Read More