[PHOTOS] Champions in the making
At the Alonso Tennis Academy, junior players are set to become international champions.
With footwork, balance and agility in check, the Noordheuwel Country Club tennis players are ready as ever for matches such as the upcoming semi-final Junior TSA tournament.
Heinrich Wasserffal is especially excited about his game in Pretoria next week. The nine-year-old is already a top player at Laerskool Kenmare and a Tennis South Africa (TSA) junior winner.
Other players such as Monument High School matriculant Michaela Maritz, is playing to become one of this year’s club champions, like Dohan Celliers did last year.
Frank Alonso, chairperson of and certified coach at the Alonso Tennis Academy (ATA) at the Noordheuwel Country Club, said most of the club’s junior players are top school players.
“Over the last three years the club has grown to over 100 members, and we have daily coaching sessions,” Frank said.
Backed by Alonso’s Spanish-style coaching, players such as Heinrich feel confident about excelling in tournaments. Frank said tennis is all about your footwork, balance and how fast you can move.
“We focus both on physical and technical skills,” he said.
The training system is implemented by keeping a maximum student-court ratio of four to one and reinforcing individual coaching. ATA’s instructional programme is multi-levelled for intermediate, advanced and elite players. Each academy tennis player is placed in the appropriate level based not on age, but on ability, maturity and the coach’s discretion.
Every year the club produces top tennis players and welcomes new talent. If you would like to know more about the club, call Frank on 078 758 2516.
For more photos of the practice session at the club, click here.
Also read:
• Elite tennis ready for new year
• KHS tennis team at the Davis Cup
