Chris is a full-time professional tennis coach, working with some of the best talent in the UK.
Starting out at the grassroots level, Chris worked with federations to lead interactive roadshows and initiatives that made everyone’s first tennis experience positive. He also worked at Wimbledon for many years, where he was responsible for giving fans a chance to try tennis at this prestigious club.
Now, Chris runs Tennis Influencers, a prestigious community for elite players of all ages, from aspiring pros to tour-level players.
Chris regularly interacts with world-renowned coaches and the best tour players, which has helped shape his own coaching philosophy.
The Sport of Tennis
The sport of tennis, in some people’s eyes, has taken a hit with the loss of some all time greats recently retiring and the growth of other racket sports like Padel.
I am here to explain why this is far from the truth.
In the men’s game 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz has already transcended the sport almost single handedly. The Spanish ‘smiling assassin’, who has already won six Grand Slam titles, has captivated a new and younger audience with his genuine nature on and off the court.
His game style shows explosive athleticism and skills that the sport hasn’t seen before all whilst wearing his warm smile.
On the female side, world number one Aryna Sabalenka is making tennis sexy and stylish on and off the court.
Her incredible powerful play is unmatched as she continues to strike the ball almost at her limit even during the most crucial nerve racking moments.
A giant aggressive presence on the court, off the court she has one of the most gentle and welcoming auras. She often shows her fun natured side with her TikTok routines and is no stranger to all major celebrity interactions as she continues to work with the world’s largest brands.
Aryna is inspiring a new generation of female players, showing how fun the journey can be and also creating a financial legacy that will only help develop more interest in women’s tennis.
There is no right time to start playing tennis or increase your amount but I can highly recommend it. As a fan or player the sport has a lot of long-term benefits to meet everyone’s individual needs.
If you are wanting to start then don’t hesitate as tennis has so many different skill-based shots so the quicker you get started the quicker you could be playing at Wimbledon!
Getting Started
The Lawn Tennis Association, which is the governing body of British tennis, has piled lots of funding into all areas especially in community park venues. This means it’s free to play with your friends and often coaching sessions are also available.
If you are keen to play against others then maybe joining a local tennis club is the best option for you. This would give you chance to access more regular professional coaching, the chance to play against other similar level players and even enter competitions or league tennis if you wanted.
I suggest simply Googling ‘tennis’ in your area to see what exactly is going on. You might be surprised how close the nearest options are for you and how much tennis is actually being played in your area.
Need a winning serve? In my next column I look forward to sharing more coaching techniques for those who like to learn and develop the most important shot in tennis …
