The rising stars of Australian tennis are honing their skills, both on and off the court, through Tennis Australia’s National Tennis Academy.
Sunshine Coast, Australia, 26 July 2023 | Leigh Rogers
From scaling a high-ropes course to beachside yoga sessions, the importance of holistic development was evident at the National Tennis Academy’s annual connection camp.
Tennis Australia’s National Wellbeing Manager Ben Robertson led the three-day camp, which was held on the Sunshine Coast earlier this year and incorporated daily themes of decompression, regulation and regeneration.
“The idea is to help the athletes self-regulate and give them some skills and strategies away from tennis, which they can then use on the court,” Robertson explained.
“We also wanted to take them out of their comfort zone and encourage them to learn in different environments.”
The National Tennis Academy, based at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane, is the pinnacle in Tennis Australia’s talent pathway. An invitation is reserved only for the nation’s most promising players aged 23 and under.
The academy’s class of 2023 consists of 27 athletes, which includes reigning Australian Open doubles champion Rinky Hijikata.
“We have developed a talent pathway that provides young athletes with the opportunity to become independent and resilient tennis professionals, with a broad set of skills and capabilities,” Chris Mahony, Head of the National Tennis Academy, explained.
“Through the academy, we are delivering a holistic athlete development program which gives each player the opportunity to maximise their potential.
“We have both residential and home-based programs available, and work closely with the athletes, their private coaches and their families to ensure they have access to the best support network possible.”
The world-class program is supported by 11 coaches, along with a team of experts in physical performance, sports psychology, nutrition, performance analysis and wellbeing.
A personalised distance education program for school-aged players is another key pillar.
“When we look at the entire program, there are so many elements that we have to fit schooling around,” Renae Woods, the academy’s Dean of Students, said.
“It’s really challenging for the students, especially those in year 11 and 12 who still have to meet every single curriculum outcome and deadline.
“Maintaining their motivation when they are…
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