FORMER world number seven ranked tennis player Lesley Hunt is determined to grow the game of tennis through her locally based tennis academy.
The Australian tennis legend recently returned from the Davis Cup where seven of her Lesley Hunt Tennis Academy students were ball boys and girls.
“They met all the players; they saw Lleyton Hewitt and the way he hits a forehand; I worked with him when he was young like them so they pay a little more notice to what I have to say,” she said.
Hunt, a former world number one junior girl’s player and a top 10 ranked women’s player from 1967 to 1980, holds training session’s at most local schools in Falcon and Halls Head as well as at Frederick Irwin Anglican School.
During her tennis career Hunt reached the quarter finals at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open on several occasions before coaching on the tour for 10 years after retiring.
From 1990 to 2002 Hunt worked for Tennis Australia as a Western Australian state squad coach.
“I coached players like Hewitt, (Alicia) Molik and (Jelena) Dokic and took them away on tour,” Hunt said.
In 2008 Hunt moved to Mandurah to spend more time with her family and turned her focus onto grassroots coaching.
“I wanted to bring tennis to as many kids as possible,” she said.
Hunt said she began with grassroots tennis but soon found herself coaching state-level players.
“I teach them well and if they love the sport like I do they begin to get pretty good,” Hunt said.
“One young girl I’ve coached since she was six, Rachel Mellor is one of the best two or three in the state 12s [12-year-old].”
“She won the WA 10s and the National 10s a couple of years ago.
“I can see her one day getting onto the pro tour.”
Hunt said two eight-year-olds Liv Mouna and Noah Hitchcock were also extremely talented young players.
“They both show good signs, their racquet skills are sparkling,” she said.
“They’re all great kids.”
Hunt will take another group of children to the Hopman Cup were they will be ball boys or girls and get the opportunity to meet the players.
Anyone interested in becoming involved in tennis can call Lesley Hunt on 0438 294 202.
School term tennis sessions commence during the first or second week of the term.
