Australian Open Update #2 |
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This is my third day in Melbourne as a speaker and my first time to Australia. It has been an awesome experience…..
Today I walked about 6 blocks from my hotel on Russell St down to the tram (trolley) which I took over to Hysense Arena. I am the 2nd presenter today on Hysense and they have the roof open today. My presentation is on “20 Best Games for Strategy and Tactics” and I have 6 young players who will demonstrate the drills I will do.
There are 4 cameras on and about 250 coaches. It is like a match and today I am on. Good energy and I make quick friends with the kids so they respond well to all the drills we do. My jokes are good as well today and I can tell I connect with the audience well.
The weather is cool this year so far and has been a bit cloudy. Cool weather comes in form the south and hot weather from the winds out of the north.
Got voted the best presentation of the weekend to date. Every DVD I brought with me sold out after my presentation and they were asking for more, so I told them to go to www.kendeharttennis.com to order. Gave everyone who bought DVD’s a copy of my “Today” card with Kam and me on the top of it.
Got to be on the court to assist Dan Santorum with his presentation on Corrective Techniques and with a top physical trainer from Australia for the youth doing exercises to prevent injuries. Later Dan and I went over to Rod Laver Arena and went to the players area. We saw most of the players practicing. Said ‘Hello” to the Bryan Brothers and Fabrice Santoro and got to see Donald Young from the US play his qualifying match. We talked to a long time friend of ours, Brian DeVilliers who is the coach for young American player Melanie Oudin from Atlanta, said “hello” to Donald Young’s dad and a couple of other international coaches.
We took the players van back to the hotel. Dan got a ticket to a Crickett match at the big stadium next door and I chose to go with Frank from Holland and Mike Barrell from England to visit Kooyong Club. It was built in 1879 and was the site of the Australian Open for several decades until they built the new stadium in Melbourne. We had dinner there with a couple of friends who are members (10 yr wait list to join), 52 courts – 30 grass and about 20 clay, pictures of all the great Aussie players from the past and a few hundred silver trophies. They are having a tournament going on now as a lead up to the Australian Open. Songa and Verdasco will play in the finals tomorrow. Federer will be there to play a practice match as well.
What history at this club. They just spent $132 million renovating the facility.
Tomorrow is the last day of the Coaches Conference back the Hysense Arena from 9-4:30. We will have a 4 hour course on all aspects of the serve from Bruce Elliott, one of the top bio-mechanist in the world, a presentation from famous Australian player and coach – Ray Ruffles and Miguel Crespo on Drills, think before you feed.
I have Sunday off except for a dinner for the speakers at the conference to do some sight seeing. Monday I have Rod Laver Arena tickets to watch first round play.
Ken DeHart
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