He’s definitely one of the toughest players I ever faced in my life. It’s a matter of time that you will hold a Grand Slam for sure - if you don’t mind waiting a few more years.
~ Novak Djokovic, talking about his 2021 Australian Open win against Daniil Medvedev ~
Every Australian summer, Melbourne comes alive with a tennis frenzy. Adults and kids alike gather at Melbourne Park and many seek tickets for the key games in Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena, although, there's plenty of great tennis to be had on the outer courts as well.
In 2022, as I write this post, it is up in the air as to whether last year's winner of the Australian Open men's singles, Novak Djokovic, will even be on the court after an 'issue' with his visa.
Whatever happens though, if you're in or around Melbourne, you're guaranteed to be bitten by the tennis bug — and why not? Tennis is a fun game that kids and adults of all ages can play, either in a social capacity, to increase cardio fitness or with a goal to compete in tournaments.
Grab your tennis racquet, slop on some sunscreen, lace up your shoes and get out on the court! Tennis is fun to learn and play and there are programs to suit every player level, from beginner to advanced, and every learning style, from people who prefer private coaching to those who love group lessons or want a real workout with cardio tennis.
Decide what it is you are after and then keep reading to discover where you can find the best Melbourne tennis programs, lessons and coaches.
Where Can I Find Tennis Clubs and Lessons in Melbourne?
With well over 150 tennis clubs just in greater Melbourne, you will certainly have no shortage of options when you start looking around for somewhere to learn. But where do you start? Doing an internet search for Melbourne tennis or tennis lessons Melbourne is a good place to start and, from there, you can narrow your search to your local area. Here are a few of the top clubs with reputable private coaches and group coaching programs to give you an idea of the variety that's out there.
Top Tenn Tennis Coaching
Top Tenn has over ten locations throughout South East Melbourne and caters for all player levels regardless of age or skills. Their philosophy is to 'put the FUN back into FUNdamentals' and they achieve this with their range of activities, including cardio tennis, Hot Shots, Teen Xtreem, squads, junior tournaments, holiday programs and birthday parties.
Private one-on-one coaching, small group coaching and squad coaching are available for adults from beginner level to advanced.
Topseed Tennis Academy
Run by head coach, Yvonne Fantin, this tennis academy operates out of four venues across Melbourne's north and northeast. Along with their regular junior and adult coaching programs, Topseed offer a range of special programs, including:
- Hot Shots and Hot Shots Match Play
- Cardio Tennis
- social tennis
- Let's Ace Autism (for kids with autism spectrum disorder)
- Muslim women and girls program
- Junior squad training.
The academy also holds and participates in a range of tournaments at every level.
Excel Tennis
Head coach at Excel Tennis, Marcus Petrou, is also one of a select few Tennis Australia Talent Identification Coaches — so you just know this club is going to produce great results. Kids can start with junior group coaching lessons from the age of four and continue right through to adult group coaching.
Cardio tennis and junior holiday programs are also available, as well as private or semi-private coaching for beginner players through to high-performance players. Tournaments and competitions are also a feature at Excel Tennis.
Tennis World
With locations in Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Launceston, Tennis World offers private and group coaching, including Hot Shots, performance coaching, development squads, cardio tennis and social leagues.
Where can I play casually?
In many cases, players need to be a member of a tennis club in order to book and access the courts outside of coaching and lesson time. However, there are a considerable number of Melbourne tennis courts where the public can play for free on well-maintained courts with regulation nets. Players will, of course, need to supply their own tennis racquets and balls.
Discover tennis lessons Sydney easily when you search for a coach on Superprof.
Characteristics of a Great Tennis Coach
The relationship between a coach and a student, whether in a group situation or private, is important. A tennis student has to be able to trust and respect their coach and also feel comfortable with them during their lessons. This relationship is essential for advanced and professional players and equally as necessary for players as the beginner stages. There are a number of characteristics we recommend you look out for when deciding on a tennis coach for yourself (or your kids).
Qualifications
In Australia, anybody can sell themselves as a tennis coach as qualifications are not mandatory. However, they are highly recommended and it is rare to find a club with coaches who are unqualified. Look for coaches who are members of either Tennis Australia or the Australian Tennis Professional Coaches Association. You can even go as far as to find out what type of coaching courses they've done — Hot Shots, Community Coaching, Junior Development, Club Professional, High Performance — to see if they have the right skills for your needs.
Experience
If a coach is a beginner, it doesn't necessarily mean they will be bad at coaching. What you might want to look for, though, is a coach who has a lot of playing experience. Players often pick up little tips and strategies that are not necessarily taught in coaching courses.
Communication skills
A coach can have been a professional player, but don't assume they can communicate what they know. Instructions should be clear and the coach should be able to modify what they say to ensure all their students understand. You can usually tell how good a coach's communication skills are after the first lesson.
Calm temperament
Nobody wants a coach who yells and is impatient. Students need to know that their coach cares about them, understands their needs and respects their learning style. Coaches who are encouraging will get more out of their students and motivate them to improve their skills.
Passion for tennis
You can instantly tell the difference between a coach who loves the game and a coach who is 'just doing a job'. Passion is contagious and coaches who are passionate about tennis will have students who are passionate about the game.
Adaptable coaching style
Not every student is the same, nor do they learn the same way. A good coach can accommodate multiple learning styles, even in group sessions. Some coaches may specialise in certain age groups or levels, too. Respect this. Don't ask a coach who only coaches adults to coach your kids. They have recognised their skills; you should too. Alternatively, coaches who work with all levels and age groups should be able to demonstrate different strategies and approaches for each group to cater for differing needs.
Discover tennis lessons near me easily when you search on Superprof.
Do Superprof Tutors Offer Tennis Lessons?
Wait. Doesn't Superprof mainly offer online tutoring? How can you tutor sports like tennis online?
Firstly, tutors on the Superprof platform offer tuition in just about every subject, academic or recreational, you can think of — including a host of sports. Secondly, many tutors offer both in-person and online tuition, as well as small group tutoring. And thirdly, while it may not be as good as in-person lessons, online tutoring or coaching in tennis is completely doable; Superprof tutors have been honing their skills in online delivery for years — way before Covid made online learning the norm.
If, for whatever reason, you can't find a private coach who fits your budget, schedule or learning style, checking out the Superprof platform is a great option.
Or, why not make it your first choice?
Superprof is a platform that helps students connect with teachers all over Australia. Are you looking for a tennis coach gold coast, Sydney, or Byron Bay? No matter your location, find an array of local tutors and instructors near you.
Superprof tennis tutors offer great hourly rates and flexible scheduling. If you're willing to give online coaching a crack, the greatest benefit is you and your tutor don't both need to be in Melbourne.
Imagine finding your dream coach, then discovering they live in Perth or Brisbane? With online tennis lessons, it doesn't matter where in Australia you and your new coach live.
And, to top it all off, most Superprof tutors offer the first session for free. You now have no excuse not to try online coaching.
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