THE INSIDE WORD FROM AN ASPIRING AUSSIE TENNIS PLAYER, FOR PLAYERS AND PARENTS IN OZ.

My name is Savannah James, I am a 16-year-old female tennis player competing in Bayside Regional Tennis Association competitions. This essay was written as part of my Tennis Victoria Future Leaders assessment to help other children and their parents navigate the various opportunities in tennis.

I will share my own experience and thoughts on how to maximise your journey in the sport.  These are my personal observations designed for players and parents new to the game to get a broad understanding of the opportunities available both through the BRTA and wider tennis industry. I hope you enjoy it.

Tennis is a constantly evolving game – back in the 1880’s our racquets were lopsided, made of wood, strung with sheep intestine and kept in a wooden press. The evolution of the equipment and the game is only matched by the constant change in coaching programs, game formats and opportunities to play our sport. Even in my own relatively short career I have seen many changes in the regional team events our associations compete in. Even associations can come and go at a great rate.

Victoria has 68 tennis Associations (at last count). Tennis Associations form based on a particular geographical area, a particular player demographic or a special need in the tennis community. The one thing they have in common is a desire to promote the game of tennis. The Association model is unique to Victoria when compared to other Australian States and is responsible for the highly organised tennis participation rates in Victoria.

The first thing I had to get an understanding of was what is the difference between playing on a Saturday or Sunday morning – I just thought it was my local comp, and it was all the same. I had no idea who ran what or that I was playing in different Associations. To be fair, I didn’t realise the formats were different either – just that on Saturday I always played girls and then on Sunday the gender mix was anybody’s guess. 

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This is consistent in all Associations across the state – there is no alignment on competition dates, formats or even the number of players in a team. I always enjoyed playing team tennis the most and made lifelong friends.

Like all kids, I want to be No.1 in the world – I am lucky that I don’t have 'psycho parents' – or else I would have given up long before now. There is a fine line between psycho and supportive/obsessed when it comes to parents. My dad used to look forward to the 'in-car debrief' on the way home from tennis… If only he knew I was totally shut down and didn’t hear a word he said. Whenever a parent hears the words yes and ok you should know we aren’t really interested in your opinion. Instead, if we have a good coach let us text him and chat about our results. A good coach will be happy to hear from you. Change coaches if your coach is not interested in your results.

It's hard to maintain the enthusiasm when becoming a world No.1 appears out of reach, so it is important to consider what success looks like to you and how you define success. You can have a great tennis career without being the best player in the world. For some, giving the speech as you receive the BRTA Section 25 premiership trophy is a great triumph that you will never forget. Winning a round of doubles in a J125 tournament and actually getting a National Masters ranking point. 

Getting your UTR over 4 for the first time.  These are all milestones on your journey that equate to success. Even Jannik Sinner didn’t just wake up one morning as world No.1 without ticking off milestones along the way. Make sure you have several short-term goals along the way as a measurement of your success. Only a select few get to No. 1 but there are lots of successful tennis careers out there. Your coach probably didn’t get to No. 1 either, but they are still making a successful career out of tennis.

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Of course, there is always the ‘psycho parent’ who thinks that you will be their superannuation policy.  Remind them that the top 100 men and top 60 women in the world may make a decent living from tennis. Maybe the odds are more in your favour if you go to a US College on a tennis scholarship and study law or medicine if your parents really want to live off your earnings.

You and your parents really need to understand the tennis landscape early on.

If you are 10 or under don’t fight the green ball comps – it’s a battle you won’t win. Green Ball is here to stay, and all the science suggests it is the best way to learn the game at a young age.  Some coaches will tell you, you are too good for green ball (and you may well be) but don’t forgo the Super 10’s program and all it offers.  It is one of the most heavily resourced programs in grassroots tennis. 

Get online and learn about how to apply for the selection trials.  In 2025 there will be over 150 Green Ball Series tournaments throughout metro and regional Victoria.  The pinnacle is selection for the Super 10’s National Camp at the Australian Open. Green Ball matches don’t count towards UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) – but you have plenty of time to worry about UTR when you are 11. All BRTA matches with yellow balls count towards UTR

Tennis Australia has deemed it mandatory to have a competitive play profile linked to a UTR to play Tennis Australia-endorsed tournaments, leagues and events. Tennis Australia uses UTR to reflect your current skill level based on head-to-head match scores using a highly developed computer algorithm. BRTA encourages all players regardless of grade, age and standard to create a Competitive Play Profile and link it to a UTR account  It costs nothing to do this - and you may never use it.

Therein lies the young tennis player dilemma and one I am challenged by every day.  I am always told not to worry about UTR – it’s only a number, it doesn’t define you, UTR means nothing, just do your best and UTR will take care of itself. That’s all fine, but everybody from Tennis Australia down to my local club uses it to define me and identify my standards. I live and die by my UTR and it really shouldn’t be that way, but I don’t have any choice.

Enter 'psycho parent' again. I can honestly say I have never avoided playing any match or competition because it may impact my UTR. I play anybody anywhere. However, there are plenty of players ducking matches that threaten their UTR – many under parental advice. This really is taking it to extremes in a junior sport. In junior tennis, we know who the 'duckers' are, and I have never seen any of them amount to anything. My advice is to play local competitions. If you are too good for juniors’ section 1, move to the senior competitions.

Once you have reached a certain standard at around 12-13 years you need to start thinking about what pathway you want to take and how much time you want to commit to tennis, how much your family can afford, and realistically, do you have the commitment to reach the level of success you set for yourself?

Tennis Australia offers the NDS (National Development Squad) to the highest-ranked juniors to support their training. The criteria to be invited are updated almost annually and it is very hard to get a clear understanding of their requirements. Don’t panic if you are not invited to NDS – at the lower ages it is really just another tennis squad. You can replicate that offering in your local area (and you won’t have to battle peak-hour traffic to and from Melbourne Park).

Larger tennis clubs in Melbourne such as Kooyong, Royal South Yarra, MCC and Grace Park Hawthorn offer tennis scholarships to aspiring players. These scholarships will support your tennis development with training opportunities; however, you have to be aware that you will sacrifice some control over your competitive opportunities. For example, at the highest level, you will be expected to play Tennis Victora Pennant for the club providing the scholarship in a team that may not be your usual tennis friends. Furthermore, if you aspire to State Grade these clubs can only field four to six players a week and there is probably a long line in front of you in some cases.

While discussing scholarships, your tennis can really help your education. Most APS schools will offer scholarship support for accomplished tennis players to play ‘firsts’ at school. Once again the school will make you commit to compulsory team sport that will limit your ability to play Association Saturday (morning and afternoon times) during the APS season. The savings and education probably justify the loss of flexibility.

In partnership with Tennis Victoria, School Sport Victoria (SSV) oversees the Bruce Cup (12 & under) and Pizzey Cup (18 & under) state teams. Most schools are members of SSV which means you can apply to try out for these teams (unlike other state teams that are selected). Being a member of a Victorian State team carries great weight on a tennis resume and is another milestone of success.

The other important scholarship path to consider is US College. This can save you up to USD150K with a US University education. If you aspire to be No.1 in the world you may see this as four years of wasted effort – but top ten players John McEnroe, Cameron Norrie, Danielle Collins, John Isner, Kevin Anderson and many others all came through the US college system.

If this is an attractive option, you need to start planning while you are in Year 8. The NCAA requires certain grades in a prescribed subject group to reach entrance standards. You need to understand the difference between Divisions 1, 2 and 3 and community colleges. The NCAA has a wonderfully detailed website where you can register. There are also lots of college recruitment agents in Australia. They will cost you between $3,000 and $8,000 for placement support. You can do it alone, but these experts will keep you on track. 

One of the biggest myths I have heard in tennis is that all US college coaches are only interested in your UTR. Nothing could be further from the truth. Good coaches want good team-orientated citizens. That means playing local competition regularly as part of a team and if you have the opportunity Regional Team Events – both carry a lot of cache on a tennis resume. If you can’t support a team at a local level, what hope have you got with a group from all over the world with different motivations and cultures? You need to demonstrate that you can commit to a team structure.

ITF (International Tennis Federation) Junior Tournaments provide a pathway to world rankings, Grand Slam entry and possibly junior national team representation. It can be an expensive and frustrating process. First, you need to visit the ITFTENNIS website and sign up for an IPIN. This will allow you to enter ITF events all around the world. It can be frustrating because, without any points or a ranking, there are many tournaments you won’t be able to get into. One option for some kids is a trip to Africa (or other equally remote or challenging destinations) where points are easier to come by and access to get in the draw is easier. 

I am not sure if this investment is better than what you can achieve here with a similar amount of money. I did an eight-week tour playing in Cyprus, Bahrain, UAE and Japan – sure I had a great time, and it was fun – but was it a great return on investment? Unless you are near the top of the tennis tree, I am not convinced about the value of ITF points – I will keep playing ITF events, but I am under no illusions that I may be achieving nothing more than a good hit.

Another option is to pack your bags and attend an overseas tennis academy. I moved to Spain for two years on my own at 13 to train at Bardou Tennis Academy in Spain. 

From a price perspective, it probably cost about the same as a private school would have (and I still got an education). I loved every moment of my time in Spain – but it is probably not for everyone. You will hear about the Nadal Academy and Mouratoglou and IMG in Florida.  These are the most expensive options. Hundreds of tennis academies around the globe are significantly more economical. If you choose this option, you must find the academy that is right for you. I spent time at some of those academies mentioned above and found I was treated more like a cheeseburger rather than a fillet mignon (to quote a famous Rick Macci line). It is worth visiting an academy for a week before committing to a year.

You can find all the Tennis Australia-endorsed tournaments at www.tournaments.tennis.com.au

Tennis Australia offers a national points series in the 12’s, 14’s, and 16’s that gains the top qualifiers entry into the State Masters end-of-year event. In the 16’s, a dozen players from the Australian Junior Tour points Leader Board receive places in the December Showdown qualifying event. The winner of the December Showdown gets an Australian Open Juniors main draw wildcard. You may not win it and it might seem a long way away – but it is your chance to get into the Australian Open Juniors if you gather the points and play your way in – regardless of your UTR or ITF ranking. I think this is a great opportunity for us middle-of-the-road kids.

One of the best bargains in all of sport is a tennis club membership. Where else can a junior sportsperson grab a friend and play almost without limits every day of the week if they want? Tennis Australia suggests a junior tennis player should train up to 20 hours a week – that is almost impossible for us mere mortals. Especially if we pay for private lessons and squads, etc. With our club membership for $200 or less per year, we can train all we like without tapping mum and dad. Just find a friend with similar ambitions and start hitting balls. You will get better.

The coach-player relationship is a challenging one. You must always find a coach you are comfortable with. Don’t worry if they climbed the pillar to greatness as a player or are just a professional qualified coach. They will all teach you similar things and then it is up to you to put that into practice. If you want to be No.1 in the world, one 30-minute group lesson a week won’t cut it. You need a private lesson each week to focus on just you. Don’t overdo it either – private lessons are too expensive. I suggest you find a couple of good standard squads each week preferably with the same coach so you can practice what you learnt in your private. 

If a coach is not treating you like a valued customer you have every right to move on – don’t be fooled by the violins and sob stories urging you to stay. Tennis is a tough game, and you are the customer so ultimately you hold the power to decide when a change is necessary – the coach will recover and probably replace you in a week. Conversely, only go to the most popular coach in your area if he can fit you in and you are comfortable with his/her availability to support your tennis journey.

Finally, there is a pathway through association tennis. BRTA offers Green Ball interclub competition for those just starting their tennis journey.  Once you become more experienced you can graduate to Yellow Ball and move through 24 sections of increasing standard, (don’t worry, as you improve you can jump more than one section each season).

Once you move into the top half of the junior competition you can consider entering Tennis Victoria Associations Junior Pennant (AJP). 

These teams are organised by BRTA and are the equivalent of rep basketball or netball. To be considered for AJP you must play a minimum of six Association matches. Three AJP matches qualify you to be considered for representation of BRTA in the State Teams Championships. Once you are comfortable with inter-club play you can move to the Senior Saturday afternoon competitions. A premiership in any senior association league qualifies you and your team to participate in the Victorian League Championships event.  (You can still compete as a junior as long as it was a senior premiership team). BRTA also enters stand-alone representative teams in numerous inter-association events.

Your association is made up of over 100 tennis clubs and if you need advice or direction in any part of your tennis journey there is every chance that BRTA can point you in the right direction for an experienced member of our tennis ecosystem to point you in the right direction.

Enjoy your tennis and see you on the court!

Play USA Tennis Pathways supports athletes who want to go down the college pathway, assisting players to get recruited to a college that meets their academic and athletic goals. If you are a player, parent, or coach and are interested in the college pathway in the United States, contact Lachlan Puyol at playusatennispathways@gmail.com