Australia’s top-ranked wheelchair participant Heath Davidson shares precious recommendation in our “Practice with the Professionals” sequence.
Melbourne, Australia, 13 September 2024 | Jackson Mansell
Heath Davidson is without doubt one of the world’s greatest quad wheelchair tennis gamers.
The 37-year-old from Melbourne is a four-time Grand Slam doubles champion and has been ranked as excessive as world No.1 in doubles and world No.3 in singles.
His spectacular resume additionally contains Paralympic Video games gold and silver medals, received in doubles alongside shut good friend Dylan Alcott.
Davidson has constructed a popularity as being an exquisite mentor for aspiring gamers and at all times finds time to help the Australian juniors developing in wheelchair tennis. In our Practice with the Professionals sequence, Davidson presents recommendation on easy methods to carry out greatest on the observe courtroom.
Do you may have a favorite time of day to observe?
Early within the morning so I can get residence and play COD (Name of Responsibility).
What number of hours per week, on common, would you spend on the observe courtroom?
I can’t give away my secrets and techniques on that one, but when I’m being sincere, not as a lot as I ought to.
Do you may have a favorite a part of your sport to work on?
I really like hitting drop pictures. I’m at all times making an attempt to be inventive on the courtroom. I suppose the extra I observe that, the extra it exhibits up in my matches.
Do you may have a least favorite a part of your sport to work on?
Positively overheads, I hate them. I don’t know why I hold going for them nevertheless it’s actually arduous to regulate in a wheelchair to an overhead. As soon as the ball will get that tiny bit too excessive or the wind takes it, it’s robust.
Are you able to bear in mind the primary skilled participant you had a chance to observe with?
Would you name Dylan Alcott a professional? (laughs) No, I used to be actually lucky that once I got here again to enjoying tennis – me and Dylan we’re so shut, we’ve identified one another for 23 years – so, I used to be straight again onto the courtroom with him. He was beneficiant sufficient to provide me his time, as a result of I used to be rubbish once I got here again. However six months later, one thing clicked, and I began to play tennis once more.
Are there any gamers on tour you’ll love the chance to observe with?
Aryna Sabalenka. I feel she’s superior. She loves to bounce and has enjoyable together with her staff, so if I might get on the market with Sabalenka, it could be fairly cool.
What recommendation would you share with an aspiring participant making an attempt to get essentially the most out of a coaching session?
Coaching is a good alternative so that you can work on how you’ll be on courtroom in a match, as all the pieces you do in coaching will relate to what you do on courtroom. So practice such as you would play in a match with high-intensity ranges, push arduous, swing via the ball and simply hold slugging it out.
Lastly, for those who had 5 minutes remaining in a session and will do something you would like, what would it not be?
I really like doing returns, simply getting extra snug swinging via the returns. Returning would in all probability be one in every of my favorite elements of observe.
> READ MORE: From our “Practice with the professionals” sequence
Discover your solution to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!