By Todd Larkham
The athlete development report this month comes from the greatest tennis tournament of all – The All England Lawn Tennis Championships – also knows as Wimbledon. This is my first visit here since 2003 and what a year to be back here! A few weeks ago I got a call from my boss asking me to be here to help out with our juniors and also to coach a Croatian girl. I was filling in for a friend and fellow Aussie coach David Taylor (who’s wife is very ill).
What an amazing place this is. I first came here when I was 9 years old. When I walked through the gates then it felt special – the ivy on the buildings, the flowers, the grass courts, the stewards, the way people dressed, the fact every player wore white – I could go on and on. I believe it’s the greatest sporting venue in the world – the traditions they have maintained and the fact that this place is a club, not a purpose built sporting venue – all add to the amazing atmosphere.
Unfortunately the girl I was coaching went down in the first round, she was nervous – only her 2nd time at Wimbledon – the importance of playing here (on a packed show court) got to her. She will be better next year. What I didn’t expect was a young man from Canberra to still be going. I have been lucky enough to watch all 3 of his matches. The first one he was nervous, his feet didn’t move and he regularly mistimed the ball – however his serve held up and he found a way to get through. Then came Gasquet – a former semi-finalist and a top 10 player. As I sat court side and watched in unfold I thought the match was lost many a time. Nicks courage, composure and guts was incredible – not to mention the level of tennis he sustained for a 4 hour period. In the third round, with the pressure of expectation now on his shoulders – he came out stiff, sore and nervous. Luckily, the reliable England rain came at the right time and his coach, Simon Rae, was able to get in his ear with a stirring motivational speech. Simon told him to lay it all on the line out there, go for it, give it everything with no excuses and no regrets. It worked, Nick came out a changed man and played his very best – flashing winners and aces, being patient when required and clinching the big points with ease.
I has been an amazing journey this week he has taken us on and a privilege to witness it. I did my first lesson with Nick when he had just turned 10 years old and my last when he turned 17 years old. He always showed promise and talent and above all a great work ethic on court and a fierce desire during competition to win. So it has been hard not to get just a little emotional watching him here this week. His composure, respect for his opponents, officials and the crowd has been outstanding and the way he has carried himself during his lengthy press conferences and commitments has been exemplary.
A date with the great Rafael Nadal is next – hopefully on Centre Court. I should be back home by now – but I had to stay. He has appreciated and thrived on the support from the fanatics and the Tennis Australia coaches who have joined me in the stands supporting him in his first 3 rounds. He loves the big occasion and lifts his level when it matters – we wish him all the best tomorrow night and know that he will give it his all.
Here are some stats this week on Nick:
•First Canberran to reach the 4th round of the singles since Wally Masur (93,92 and 88)
•No Canberran has ever made the quarter-finals
•After Wimbledon he will be the youngest player in the top 100
•First Australian to make the 4th round since Tomic in 2011 (reached quarters)
•First wildcard to make the 4th round for a very long time!
•3rd player in the history of tennis to save 9 match points in a Grand Slam event
•Youngest player left in the draw
•BORN AND BRED IN CANBERRA!!
Local results from June and July will be highlighted in next months court talk.
Signing off from Wimbledon
Todd
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