Hooked on coaching

By Gavin Staindl
ENDEAVOUR HILLS resident Jay Salter describes himself as a tennis “coachaholic” but has quickly re-established himself as one of Victoria’s prime players after winning the Waverley Tennis Queen’s Birthday Tournament.
The non-ranked and unseeded Salter advanced through the rounds beating many high seeded players before he eventually took out the final 6-4, 7-5 over David Vukasinec at the Doveton Tennis Club.
But do not let his non-ranking fool you.
The 34-year-old is known around Victorian Tennis ranks as a champion player who won the 2007 State Pennant best player award and nine club championships at Kooyong.
But the former junior Aussie number one turned his head to coaching and for the past 10 years has been more focussed on running his coaching company “Universal Tennis Academy” based out of Harkaway.
While maintaining his business in coaching, Salter’s only form of playing tennis derives from State Pennant matches.
That was until he was persuaded by one of his tennis students to play in the Queen’s Birthday Money Tournament over the long weekend.
“I was not going to enter but Andrew (Gregory) convinced me,” Salter said.
“I just wanted to have a bit of a hit… and I didn’t care if I lost, I was just happy to run around and be active.”
The unseeded Salter previously conquered the Queen’s Birthday tournament in 1998 and 2008 but had not participated in any tournaments since that day in 2008.
“It was interesting to look at the draw. I played a seeded player almost every round,” Salter said.
But it appeared all too easy for the laid-back Salter, who moved through the seven games without dropping a set and went on to claim the $1,000 prize for first position.
Salter originally tried his luck playing tennis overseas as a 20-year-old but eventually gave it away after losing the enjoyment for the sport.
“I reached a rank of 500 or so but gave it away. I was a bit immature and since I was the number one junior Australian I thought I was good enough to make it at the senior levels but didn’t realise more had to be done.
“I don’t regret (trying harder) because if I do I will never get anywhere,” Salter said.
Instead Salter enrolled to study and after four years returned to tennis as a coach.
“I enjoy coaching. It keeps me fit and active and I can pass on the advice to kids that I have picked up over my career.”
Joining Salter on the winners list for the Waverley Tennis Queen’s Birthday Tournament was Belinda Woolcock who defeated Niva Barics 6-1, 6-1 to take out the open women’s title.
In the women’s doubles Lisa D’Amelio and Laura McNamara toppled second seed Brigitte Beck and Woolcock in an epic game that went down to 12-10 in the final set.
The pairing of Shaun Waters and Chris Young were too good for Glen Dawes and Clinton Snell comfortably winning the men’s open doubles 6-0, 6-4.