Doveton Tennis Club’s emerging tennis stars have swept up a cabinet full of silverware over the school holidays. Pictured, back from left: Josh Staebner, Markus Tan, Brayden Follett, assistant coach Lewis Miles, Ethan Lodewyke, Brandon Borg, coach Justin Yeo, Leo Khreish, assistant coach Daniel Nickels, Matt Cook, Beau Borg and Priscilla Dawson. Front from left: Jordan Tichy, Zac Osborne, Audrey Teo, Alex Kheish and Stephanie Cook. 50141
SUCCESS is becoming contagious at Doveton Tennis Club.
Just 12 months after head coach Justin Yeo took the reins at Robinson Reserve, the club is already developing a reputation for nurturing young talent.
The Tennis Australia-accredited talent development coach last year wasted no time in assembling a promising squad of Casey residents to participate in his high performance program, but could hardly have expected such rapid results.
His emerging stars spread far and wide over the school holidays, many acquitting themselves brilliantly in national-level tournaments.
The standout performer was 11-year-old Audrey Teo, who won singles titles in Caulfield, Glen Iris and North Ringwood to confirm her status as one of Australia’s best prospects in the 12-and-under age group.
Club-mates Zac Osborne, Jordan Tichy, Leo Khreish, Brandon Borg, Beau Borg, Matt Cook, Priscilla Dawson, Noellada Ah San and Vivian Fidantsis all made finals in their respective events during the holidays.
And 13-year-old Daphne Mantzinidis is currently playing in an International Tennis Federation-sanctioned tournament in Greece.
So while Yeo says his program, known as Serious Tennis, isn’t results driven, he can’t help but be excited.
“We work on character and attitude to drive the athletes’ futures and, by continuing discipline at home and on the court, the results are beginning to show,” he said.
Serious Tennis is, as the name suggests, targeted at ambitious young players, and Yeo is keen to continue the momentum by welcoming more participants as the summer season approaches.
For more information, call Justin on 0422 848 356.
