JVTA NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2026

In this Month’s Newsletter

  1. Message from Jackson

  2. Important Dates

    • Winter Season Kick-Off/Pres. Night

    • Winter Junior Rego

    • Bring a Friend Week
      etc.

  3. Coaches Corner

    • Coffee Order

    • Footy Team

    • Tennis Idol

4. Player Highlights

  • Ned, Gus and Minami head to US College

  • About US College

  • Hazel Nationals, Margaret Court Cup, International Ranking

  • Aarya Nori: Future Leaders

  • George & Myra: Advantage Program

  • JVTA Hot Shots hit the Aus Open

  • Gemma: Aus Open Day & State Squad Invite

  • Tournament Support Trip

5. What’s Been Happening?!

  • Player Pathway Rollout Term 4

  • Biggest 1 Pt Slam in Australia

  • Biggest Junior Club in Barwon

  • Jackson & Manaia Tennis Aus Qualifications

  • Welcome Coach Travis

  • Tennis Legend visits JAN JUC

6. Quiz Time

7. Quote of the Month

A few words from Jackson

G’day JVTA families,

First up — thank you. To our players, parents, families, coaches, and the wider Surf Coast Tennis Club community: thank you for being part of what we’re building.

I hope everyone had a sensational, got a chance to recharge, and enjoyed everything that comes with an Australian summer of tennis. Even with the Australian Open now behind us, being able to experience such tennis in our own back yard is such a privilege, and a reminder how lucky we are to have tennis embedded in our local community the way we do here on the Surfcoast. (By the way recommended to read this on laptop - mobile version not as great)

Welcome to our very first JVTA Monthly Newsletter! This newsletter is something I’ve wanted to dofor a long time. As the academy and the club have grown, there’s more happening each week than most people ever get to see — different lessons, events running, club competitions, player results, coach development, community moments, and plenty of quiet wins that deserve to be shared. The goal of this newsletter is simple: to bring the whole community closer together by helping families see what’s on offer across JVTA and the club, get to know the coaches and players beyond their usual session, warmly welcome new families, and recognise the members, volunteers, and families past and present, who have helped build this club from its earliest days, laying the foundations for the growth and development we’re proud of today, while celebrating progress - big and small - across all ages and stages. This Newsletter will be quite a lengthy one as we it entails information/highlights from Term 4 and the Summer Break ands so many awesome things going on. So refer to the index above if there are some stories you’d love to read about - Newsletters going forward will be much shorter.

2026 marks the beginning of our fourth year with Surfcoast Tennis Club, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. The number of juniors competing in our Junior Club Championships have quadrupled, and we have opened up more opportunities for orange and green ballers to play. We’ve expanded opportunities by running tournaments at our club bringing players from across Victoria to compete at Surfcoast while giving our own players the opportunity to compete in tournaments without travelling too far and being able to compete with players from all over in our own backyard. We’ve also loved hosting community days including Parent Child events that get more of our community out on court together. This Summer Season saw our largest ever number of junior teams, making Surfcoast Tennis Club the largest junior club in the Barwon region by teams - larger than Geelong Lawn and other larger clubs. Alongside that growth, we’ve built a strong team of qualified coaches, and our performance program is producing real outcomes — sending 3 players to the USA on a Tennis Scholarship in the last 6 months, and juniors pushing into national and international rankings. None of this happens without a committed coaching team, supportive families, and the volunteers and members who keep the club strong.

Each month, this newsletter will give you a quick snapshot of life around JVTA and the club, a short note from me, our Player of the Month, Coach’s Corner, what’s been happening lately, and a celebration of player achievements. We’ll also include a quick update from the World of Tennis, a clear “what’s coming up” calendar including events within JVTA and the Club, and finish with a little tennis trivia. In future there might be a bit of a monthly challenge everyone can get involved in, but for now, THANK YOU for being part of our community — we genuinely appreciate your trust and support. I hope you enjoy the read and pick up a few new insights along the way.
If there’s anything you’d love to see included in future editions, please let us know — we’re always open to feedback and ideas.

Best,
Jackson

Important Dates Coming Up

Term 1 ends - Thursday 2nd April

Bring a Friend Week - Friday 27th March to Thursday April 2nd

Graduation Week - Monday 23rd March to Friday 27th

Term 2 Begins - Monday 20th April

Juniors Season Kick-off/Pres. Night - Sunday 29th March

Junior Winter Comp Registration OPEN
REGISTER HERE
Closes - Friday March 15th

Term 2 ends - Friday June 26th

Annual NGS/High Perf. Tournament Support Trip Swan Hill - Monday 6th April to Friday 10th April

Winter Junior Team Grading - April 11th
(Tennis Geelong place your teams in sections)

Our player of the month

Our Player of the Month is a segment is where the coaches choose a player we feel has consistently exhibited values and standards we hold dear at JVTA, and conduct a bit of an interview with that player.
Player of the Month isn’t about being the best player on court or winning the most points. It’s about recognising the kids who turn up with great energy, effort, and attitude — week in, week out. The ones who listen, try, learn, support others, and give things a real crack, even when it’s hard.
At JV Tennis, we care just as much about who our players are becoming as how they play. Player of the Month celebrates those values and the behaviours we want to see more of — on the court and beyond it.

Paddy joined us at the beginning of Term 4 and from day one, one thing was clear - he could never hit enough balls in a session — to the point where balls landing in his own court were almost an afterthought. Coaching on the court next to him quickly became a full-attention sport.

One thing we learnt very early on: I don’t think I’ve ever seen Paddy miss a ball. If he swings at it, he connects. Every. Single. Time. Pretty remarkable.

Within the first week, we also realised we weren’t quite sure whether Paddy was left- or right-handed. He does plenty of things right-handed… but naturally gravitated to playing tennis left-handed. So we put the idea to him: how about two forehands?
Most tennis players would jump at the opportunity to have two forehands but Paddy not having experienced the trials and tribulations of a backhand, quite nonchalantly said, "yeah, why not!" Although having two forehands might seem like pure awesomeness, it means he has to change his bottom hand over each time he alternates forehands - pretty tricky.

Now, two months in, Paddy brings an absolute ball of energy to every session. He says hello to everyone, thanks every coach, and turns up each week ready to learn, try new things, fail, laugh, and give it another crack. That willingness, that effort, and that joy for the game is exactly what we value at JV Tennis.

His coach Hazel has done an absolutely tremendous job with him and he seems to be loving every moment. As of term 1 he has transitioned to Coach Manaia as Hazel focuses much more on her own training.

He’s an absolute pleasure to have at the courts and a very deserving Player of the Month for February!

I had the privilege of interviewing Paddy on court… here’s what he had to say.

How long have you been playing tennis for? 
Paddy  - A few months 

J - What do you love most about tennis?
P - I love tennis! I feel I have found my sport - every time I hit the ball I feel like I have won the raffle.

J - I've heard your favourite shot is your backhand, tell me a bit more about that?
P - I don't have a backhand, I have 2 forehands.

J - Oh yeah, that's pretty interesting - what's it like having 2 forehands?
P - What do you think it's like? (questioning coach Jackson), you also have 2 forehands. (I may have convinced Paddy I also have 2 forehands - shhhh)

J - What do you like about your coach? (Hazel)
P- She's really kind and she's a really good tennis player.

J- What advice do you have for a future tennis player that wants to follow in your shoes?
P - How are they going to fit in my shoes?

Coaches Corner

  • Jackson Varney

    Head Coach/Director

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Hewitt, Nalbandian, Gonzalez
    Footy Team: Hawks
    Coffee Order: Flat White

  • Manaia

    Director of Hot Shots

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Alcaraz & Barty
    Footy Team: Hawks
    Coffee Order: Strawberry Milk

  • Travis

    Director of Future Aces Squad

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Federer
    Footy Team: Norf Melbourne
    Coffee Order: Espresso Martini

  • Tom

    Director of Next Gen Program

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Feds
    Footy Team: Arsenal
    Coffee Order: Tropical Smoothie

  • Tegan

    Assistant Coach

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Evonne Goolagong-Cawley & Serena
    Footy Team: Geelong
    Coffee Order: Hot Choccie

  • Zahkele

    Assistant Coach

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Federer & Monfils
    Footy Team: Geelong
    Coffee Order: Double shot mocha

  • Max

    Assistant Coach

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Tony Roche & John Newcombe
    Footy Team: Carlton
    Coffee Order: Weak Latte

  • Hazel

    Junior Coach

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Federer & Barty
    Footy Team: don’t follow
    Coffee Order: Oat Flat White

  • Malachi

    Junior Coach

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Barty & Nadal
    Footy Team: Geelong
    Coffee Order: Chai

  • Ina

    Admin Team

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Djokovic
    Footy Team: don’t follow
    Coffee Order: Flat White

  • Arlo

    Ball Boy - Goodest Boy

    Favourite Player(s) growing up: Air bud
    Footy Team: Definitely not cats
    Coffee Order: yuck

JVTA PLAYER
HIGHLIGHTS

JVTA Player Highlights is where we celebrate the players across our academy who are doing the work and earning some incredible results. Some of us see the breakthroughs on the training court, others see the wins on the weekend, and others catch it all at tournaments — this section pulls it together and shines a well-earned spotlight on our players. We’re big on rewarding the positive: great attitude, consistent effort, big improvements, and strong results — because those things deserve to be noticed.
This section brings together all the wonderful successes our players are seeing in different areas of our academy for us all to celebrate.

This month will be pretty big as there’s been a hell of a lot going on recently so grab your popcorn!

3 JVTA High Performance Players head off to USA on Tennis Scholarships

In the last six months, three JVTA High Performance players have accepted athletic scholarships to colleges in the USA to compete for their university tennis programs. In the US system, colleges can award scholarship support to student-athletes, and depending on the level and program it can range from partial assistance through to a full scholarship that covers tuition (and in some cases also room, board, fees and books) — meaning it can be a cheaper pathway, or even a completely free ride depending on the level of the player.

Minami Tan has earned a full athletic scholarship (100% free tuition) to Georgia Gwinnett College in Atlanta, where she is competing for the Women’s Tennis Team and study a Bachelor’s in Nursing. The GGC program is as elite as it gets — a 10-time NAIA national champion and nine-time reigning champion.
Minami began her JVTA journey in 2023 and has been relentless — on the court, in the gym, and in the way she carries herself day-to-day. Minami’s results are the product of consistent day-to-day habits over many years.
Well done Minami — super proud of you.

Gus Maibaum has earned an athletic scholarship to Wallace State in Alabama — a program that finished the 2024–25 season 8th in the nation (men) and 10th in the nation (women).
Gus started with JVTA back in 2022, as a 15-year-old hitting once a week in a group lesson. Once he understood the college pathway, he locked onto a clear target and went after it. Over three years he tripled his UTR, built a proper training base, and backed himself in. On January 1, he jumped on a plane and started his US college tennis journey.
Huge effort, Gus — you’ve earned this.

Ned Simpson has recently accepted an athletic scholarship to Meridian Community College in Meridian, Mississippi.
Ned and Jackson have worked on and off over the last few years after first crossing paths through the performance program at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club. Like a lot of players, Ned didn’t have clear guidance early on around the college pathway — what to do, who to speak to, and how to actually get it moving. Ned started again with JVTA in January of 2025, committed, got aligned with the right support, and followed the process through and turned the goal into reality - August 2025 Ned left to the USA. Massive effort, Ned — super proud of you.

Massive thanks — PROPL / Alex Jago

Massive thanks to Alex Jago (Director & Talent Consultant at PROPL) for guiding these athletes through the US college journey — helping build the plan, navigate recruiting, and match players with the right college fit. PROPL also supports the academic side of the process through Natalie Martin, their US College Academic Advisor, which is a huge part of making sure everything is done properly for eligibility and entry.

US College Pathway — why we rate it at JVTA

The US College Pathway is one of the best options out there for young athletes to use the skills they’ve developed in their respective sports over their adolescent years to receive a scholarship to a University. I’ve seen too many athletes over the years work so hard at their tennis just to leave the racket collecting cobwebs as soon as year 12 finishes - not necessarily because they want to but they didn’t know what options were out there. US College Tennis offers players an opportunity to keep training, competing and improving in a structured high-performance team environment for the next four years, while also completing a degree — the best “Plan A + Plan B” combo for most families. Scholarship support can vary from partial to full, but either way it can make university significantly more affordable, and after 4 years no HECS debt.

Personally, my US experience was one of the best experiences of my life — team culture, competing for more than just yourself, becoming more independent, travelling (I hit saw 27 states in 4 years), building friendships with whom I played on the pro tour with after college and it gave me 4 years to decide whether I wanted to give tennis a good crack or dive into the career in line with my degree (architecture).

If you want to learn more about US college tennis scholarships, contact Jackson at admin@jvtennis.com.au.

High Performance player Hazel Kadera (16) has kicked off 2026 in a big way.
In December, Hazel travelled to Launceston, Tasmania to compete in both the 16/U and 18/U Australian National Championships. Across both weeks she fought through qualifying to earn her place in the main draw, faced some seriously tough opponents, and recorded her first best-of-three sets win against a higher-ranked player — a huge milestone.

In January, Hazel backed it up by winning the Margaret Court Cup in Albury, pictured with the great Margaret Court (24 Grand Slam singles titles). And post match was interviewed by Channel 7, which can be viewed here.

Hazel Kadera — Nationals, Margaret Court Cup, and ITF Breakthroughs 🎾🏆

Then in late January / early February, Hazel returned to Tasmania for a run of ITF tournaments, pushing through to the quarterfinals and knocking off multiple opponents ranked inside the world top 500 securing her first ever International Ranking Points — plus a standout win over an 8.5 UTR player 6-0, 6-2.

At the end of 2025 we reassessed Hazel’s 2026 targets, and will now work towards competing in the Australian Open Juniors 2027. 2026 she play a full schedule of international junior ranking events, and start testing the waters with a few Women’s Pro Tour events.

In the last 12 months her UTR has risen from 6.1 to 8.1
Super proud of you, Haze. Keep going.

George & Myra selected for
10&U Advantage Program

George Montgomery and Myra Sehajpal were selected for Term 4 (2025) as part of Tennis Australia’s 10&Under Advantage Program (linked to the Super 10s pathway) — a targeted development experience designed to accelerate promising young players through high-quality coaching, education, and support. Parents and private coaches are encouraged to be involved so everyone’s aligned on training loads, long-term goals, and the right development focus.

As part of the program, George and Myra earned a full-day experience at the National Tennis Centre at Melbourne Park, where they trained on-court with high-performance coach Stephen Huss (2005 Wimbledon men’s doubles champion) and were put through a structured day of technical and competitive training.

A major highlight was access to advanced performance feedback: they hit on a court fitted with Hawk-Eye style tracking, with their serve, forehand, and backhand broken down for insights like pace, spin, and accuracy. They also played a match that was filmed and analysed through SwingVision, then completed fitness testing to benchmark where they sit physically for their age group — giving them clear, measurable targets to take back into training.

AO Hot Shots Day — Melbourne Park (22 January 2026)
On Thursday 22 January, JV Tennis Academy took 10 Hot Shots players to The AO Hot Shots Day at Melbourne Park — a celebration day designed for kids and families to have the opportunity to play on the same courts as the best in the world. The Hot Shots Day also includes special moments like a parade through the Ball Park, playing on the courts of Melbourne Park just before the pros take to the courts, player interactions and opportunity to toss the coin for the match for on lucky player.

JVTA’s crew were lucky enough to step onto the Melbourne Park courts for a short Kids on Court-style experience, hitting and warming up with Coach Jackson before the day’s play began. Families were able to enjoy the Australian Open atmosphere together, with Tennis Australia providing ground passes for parents and supporters.

The highlight match that followed for our group was Rafael Jódar (University of Virginia standout) up against Jakub Menšík (ATP World No. 16) — and one of our players Junie even got to complete the coin toss, taking home the official Australian Open match coin as a keepsake.
Players on the day from Left to Right: Isaac Taylor, Spencer Martin, Bowie Bird, Raife Fuller, Leo McGrain, Ella Wood (attempting piggy back), Coach Jackson, Patrick Shears, Ollie Pearson, Mitchell Hammond, and Junie McPhan.

Aarya Nori: AO 2026
Future Leaders

Aarya Nori was selected to participate in the AO 2026 Future Leaders Program at Melbourne Park during the Australian Open—an on-site leadership and learning experience delivered in partnership between Tennis Australia and Infosys.

The Future Leaders Program (powered by Infosys Springboard) brings together Year 9–11 students for a day of learning and innovation, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at how technology helps power the Australian Openwhile building practical skills across leadership, inclusion, and digital capability.

Through workshops and hands-on activities in the Infosys Fan Zone, participants get exposed to the AI and digital tools used at a modern Grand Slam—then take those lessons back into their schools, clubs, and communities as confident young leaders. We’re proud of Arya for stepping into that arena and representing what it looks like to lead beyond the scoreboard.

JVTA HOT SHOTS HIT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Gemma’s Aus Open All Abilities Day + State Squad Invite

Gemma has reached an exciting milestone in her tennis journey, recently invited by Tennis Australia to attend a special Australian Open day celebrating inclusion and diversity in tennis. Gemma and her family received accreditation for the day, enjoyed watching high-level matches, and Gemma had the unforgettable experience of getting on court and hitting at Melbourne Park.

During the day, Gemma met members of the Tennis Australia Inclusion team, and off the back of that experience she has now been invited to join the Inclusion State Squad at the National Tennis Centre (Melbourne Park) on Sunday mornings — an exciting next step in her tennis development.

A big part of what makes this even better is the team around her. With the support of her new coach Travis, Travis has made a commitment to attend the Sunday morning Melbourne Park sessions whenever he can, to keep learning, supporting, and helping Gemma get the most out of this opportunity. Gemma has been steadily increasing her training volume over the last few terms, adding private lessons and showing real intent to keep improving. Well done Gemma - keep kicking butt!

Next-Gen Squad (NGS) Aus Open & Tournament Support Trip

Our Next-Gen Squad (NGS) is an invite-only program for junior players who are not just talented, but genuinely hungry — the kids who love the game, want to train, want to compete, and want to keep levelling up. Entry starts with being super keen (and showing it), then the standards grow: training 2+ times per week, playing weekend competition, and building toward around 10 tournaments a year. Coaches are constantly assessing players in the squad, and invitations can happen at any time — because this is about earning opportunities through attitude, effort, and consistency.

In January, our NGS group headed away on a five-day tournament support trip. Day one was the Australian Open, where players were tasked with observing the pros and identifying the habits they can copy right now — routines between points, focus, intensity, body language, how they handle feedback, and how they respond when things don’t go their way. Days two to five, the squad competed at Glen Waverley with Coach Tom and Coach Jackson, playing singles and doubles in tough conditions — heat, wind, long days — and producing some outstanding results against higher-ranked opponents.

On the trip, the players were educated on far more than just match-play. They were coached in the habits, routines, travel skills, on-court decision-making, and values that will serve them not only in tournaments, but later in life — and, for those who choose it, into US college tennis and even onto the pro tour. That meant learning how to manage emotions under pressure, prepare and compete professionally, look after themselves on the road, support teammates, and carry strong standards in the way they train, travel, and represent JVTA.

1) Habits, Routines & Emotional Control

Between-Point Routine
We trained a simple reset between points — breathe, towel, eyes up, next job. No drifting.
Same Standard, Win or Lose
Body language stays strong whether you’re up 5–0 or down 0–5. That’s maturity.
Handling Delays & Distractions
Late starts, long waits, opponent antics — we practised staying calm and staying ready.
Energy Over Emotion
Not hype all day — controlled energy so you can compete properly in match three.

2) Travel Skills (Packing, Time, Food, Standards)

Pack Like a Pro
Players learned what to pack and why — grips, first aid, spare gear, hydration, and backups.
Match-Day Time Management
Planning wake-up, meals, warm-ups, match windows, and “if I win, then what?” schedules.
Fuel & Budget Meals
Simple bulk meals that work: pasta, fajitas, rice bowls — cheap, easy, and performance-friendly.
Leave It Better Than You Found It
Airbnb, courts, team spaces — tidy bags, shared jobs, clean-up standards every day.

3) Reputation > Results
You’re remembered for how you treat people — refs, opponents, staff — not how big your forehand is.
Respect the Game
Shake hands, thank officials, show composure — act like you belong in good environments.
Handling Difficulty With Class
Bad calls, tough losses, hard feedback — we coached calm responses, not emotional reactions.
Standards Are Non-Negotiable
Sleep, attitude, effort, manners — your standard travels with you.
Jim Harbaugh has 10 lessons for life, one of them is - Find a role model, emulate them, then make them proud. How does your role model conduct themselves and how can you make them proud?

4) On-Court IQ (Analysis, Plans, Pressure)

Scouting & Game Plans
Players learned to read opponents, spot patterns, and stick to a simple plan under pressure.
Pressure Plays (30–30 Moments)
Having a go-to pattern stops panic. Default systems beat guesswork.
Taking Feedback Mid-Match
Listen, apply one cue, move on. No arguing, no spiralling, just execution.
Professional Conduct on Court
How you carry yourself matters — posture, pace, response time, and decisions.

5) Team & Culture

If You’re Not Playing, You’re Supporting
Encourage teammates the right way — energy up, distractions down, respect always.
Warm-Up Standards
A proper warm-up isn’t optional — it’s how you start sharp and settle nerves. How you do anything is how you do everything
We Do the Hard Stuff Together
Bulk meals, shared jobs, shared routines — team culture makes hard trips easier.
Neighbour Energy
We look out for each other, celebrate the wins, and lift the standard together.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?!

What’s Been Happening is our behind-the-scenes catch-up on everything moving across JVTA and Surfcoast Tennis Club — coaching wins and progress, club successes you might not hear about, programs in action, events we’ve run (or are building), and the little moments that make this place what it is. The aim is simple: keep everyone in the loop, show the depth of what’s happening beyond your usual session, and help the whole community feel more connected to the bigger picture.

PICTURED:
NGS PLAYER - George Montgomery
with pro players
Learner Tien &
Daniil Medvedev

Rollout of JVTA Player Pathway

Term 4 marked a major milestone at JV Tennis Academy with the official rollout of the JVTA Player Pathway — a project that’s been building for close to 18 months. The pathway sets clear standards, competencies, and objective tests for every stage, giving players a step-by-step roadmap for how to progress. This term was about familiarisation: coaches building sessions and term plans directly from pathway competencies, and players starting to understand exactly what they’re working toward. Just as importantly, we began properly assessing where each player currently sits, so we can create real clarity and consistency across the entire program.

The goal is for the pathway to be viewable on a front facing portal for parents and players to view their or their child’s progress as they develop and complete competencies. Jackson is currently working with developers to create the best option for parents and players to access and have their own profile. Hopefully will be available to view in the next few months.

In the meantime, our players enjoyed their very first Graduation Day receiving their stage level, and a dampener and grip to recognise their achievements. The Grip represents your level of (blue, red, orange, green, yellow and black) and your dampener will tell you which stage within the level (orange 1, orange 2 or orange 3 for example).

Look out for more updates soon!

Biggest 1 Point Slam in Australia

On Sunday 30th of November 2025, JVTA hosted a 1 Pt Slam qualifying event at our Torquay venue of Surfcoast Tennis Club which ended up being the largest in all of Australia with over 70 players.

When Tennis Australia promoted the event, we thought it would be such an unreal event for our club as it was not age group specific, anyone and everyone could play and that’s just what they did - we made a rule that you played the coloured ball and size court of the youngest player on the court, worked out great. The 1 Pt Slam was just as it sounded, 2 players jump on court, rock, paper, scissors to decide who serves, a 2 minute hit and then off you go - winner moves on, loser is out.

In typical Surfcoast fashion, we battled a bit of weather, but over 3 hours or so, 70+ players fought for the final spot. Coach Tom and Coach Jackson were the finalists and Jackson took home the win. He went on to the state finals in Melbourne competing against all other victors of respective qualifying tournaments around Victoria but was unsuccessful.

Surfcoast was then by chance chosen to be represented by one of the celebrities at the finals during the Australian Open, Aussie jockey Damien Oliver.

It was such an incredible day of fun and community. Well done Tennis Australia on creating such an event - looking forward to what it becomes next year!

Surfcoast Tennis Club now largest Junior Club in Barwon Region

Summer 25/26 Junior Geelong Competition Season saw the Surfcoast Tennis Club become the largest Junior Club in Barwon Region.
We registered 22 teams from Orange Ball to Premier League, more than historically larger clubs like Geelong Lawn TC by 3 teams.
We are hoping to continue this momentum into Winter - congratulations to all players and families!
Season kick-off/Presentation Night is on Sunday 29th March time TBC at Torquay TC.

WELCOME Coach Travis

This term we welcomed our newest Coach to the JVTA Coaching Team Travis Christall.
Travis Christall has been involved in the game for over a decade. Previously serving as the head coach at Inverloch tennis club before moving to Melbourne to further his coaching career.

Travis’ strong coaching methodologies, motivating coaching style mixed with his humour and interpersonal skills make him a favourite among players. Endeavouring to make every player who steps onto the court is seen and ready to improve.

With a proven track record in junior development Travis has coached many players to winning titles and representing Gippsland in Regional/Metro events such as the Wayne Arthur’s cup.

Travis is a qualified development coach and is currently completing his level 2 qualification, club professional.

Jackson & Manaia Tennis Australia Qualifications - Manaia chooses a coaching career

As many of you know, Manaia has been training week in week out for many years with his eyes set on the goal of a pro tennis career. After much thought about what he actually wants over the next 3, 5, 10 years, Manaia has decided his true calling is coaching and will remain at JVTA and wishes to develop as a Junior Development Coach. Manaia has applied and been accepted into Tennis Australia’s (TA) Level 1 Junior Development 2026 Course. Well done mate!

Coach Jackson has been accepted into the TA Level 3 Performance Coaching Course, TA’s highest Coaching Qualifications which will run for the following 2 years. The course is only offered every 2-3 years, open to limited number of applicants across Australia and New Zealand.

This is huge for JVTA, developing coaches, better education, means higher quality sessions, better standards and better outcomes for our players. We are committed to developing our coaching team to better support our juniors and players along the pathway ahead.

Pictured Left : JVTA Coaching team at Melbourne Park last Thursday at a workshop run by Aussie tennis legend and High Performance Coach Stephen Huss. Stephen was Wimbledon Doubles Champion and now is Performance Coach at Melbourne Park working with the best 12&Under players in Vic including our very own Myra Sehajpal.

Special Guest at Jan Juc Tennis Club — Chris Kachel 🎾

Last Monday, we were lucky to have Chris Kachel visit Jan Juc Tennis Club — a genuine Australian tennis legend with a lifetime in the sport. Chris competed on the professional tour with a career-high ATP singles ranking of 73 and doubles ranking of 19, then went on to coach and educate at the highest level, including 12 years as Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport (1990–2002).

Chris has been heavily involved in developing coaches and performance environments in Australia through Tennis Australia’s high-performance programs, and his visit to Jan Juc was part of Jackson’s Tennis Australia Performance Coach (Level 3) course requirements. Chris spent time observing and assessing our coaching environment, and brought a wealth of knowledge straight into our private lessons, the High Performance squad, and the Next-Gen squad — from the detail in technical work to the standards around habits, routines, and how we build players over time. It was an absolute pleasure and a privilege to host someone with that level of experience, and we’re grateful for the time, feedback, and insight he shared with our players and coaches.

Props for Coach Manaia

I want to take a moment to acknowledge Manaia. He’s just turned 18, and for a long time his identity — like many talented juniors — has been built around being “the tennis player.” College tennis, chasing higher levels, maybe even having a crack at the pro side… that was the story, and it’s a powerful one.

But what I respect most is that Manaia has had the maturity to pause and ask the harder question: “Am I doing this because it’s what I’ve always done… or because it’s what I actually want?” That takes real courage. Changing direction when something has been your identity for years isn’t easy — it’s not just a decision, it’s an identity shift. And anyone reading this who’s ever been known as “the athlete,” “the musician,” “the academic,” or “the high achiever” will understand how hard it can be to step off that track and choose something different.

What makes it even better is that Manaia hasn’t just stepped away from one goal — he’s stepped toward something he genuinely loves: coaching. He’s fallen in love with the craft, and he’s now been accepted into the Tennis Australia Level 1 coaching course, and set his sites on his goals of becoming an incredible Junior Development coach which is an awesome first step as he builds a real coaching pathway.

We’re extremely lucky to have him with us, and I’m genuinely proud of him — not just for the course acceptance, but for the maturity and courage behind the decision.

Life On The Tour

World of Tennis — Life On The Tour

This section is a quick update on what’s happening across the pro tennis tours. We’ll share a couple of recent results or stories, and a simple look at what life on tour actually involves — constant travel, different conditions, long weeks, and backing it up day after day. It’s just a snapshot to keep players and parents in the loop with the wider tennis world.

  1. Dubai title decided by injury (tough reality of the tour)
    Daniil Medvedev won the Dubai title after Talon Griekspoor had to withdraw from the final with a hamstring injury. It’s a sharp reminder that at the top level, your body is part of your ranking — recovery and durability matter. Read more here.

  2. New ATP heat rule (player safety is becoming a bigger issue)
    The ATP introduced a new heat rule for 2026 using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature thresholds, including a cooling break trigger and potential suspension of play at higher levels. This is a big “tour operations” change and ties directly to training habits (hydration, fitness, heat prep). Read more here.

  3. ATP safeguarding programme goes live (culture + standards in sport)
    ATP launched a new Safeguarding Programme effective Jan 2026, aimed at preventing/responding to abuse, harassment, bullying, etc., with designated safeguarding officers and clearer reporting processes at events. Read more here.

  4. Integrity crackdown (match-fixing bans still happening)
    The ITIA announced a major sanction: Leonardo Aboian banned 6 years 9 months after admitting multiple anti-corruption breaches (lower-tier events, 2018–2025). It’s a real-world reminder that character and integrity matterin sport. Read more here.

  5. WTA surge stories this week (breakthroughs + first-time finals)
    Peyton Stearns vs Taylor Townsend set up an all-American final in Austin, and Cristina Bucsa scored her first top-10 win to reach the Mérida final. Read more here.

  6. Craig Tiley leaving Tennis Australia

    One of the biggest tennis headlines in Australia this week: Craig Tiley is departing Tennis Australia after a long run leading the organisation and directing the Australian Open. He’s been appointed CEO of the USTA (United States Tennis Association) and will stay on in Australia during the transition while Tennis Australia runs a search for his successor. Read more here.

QUIZ TIME

Each Newsletter there will be a little quiz - this one is for the kids, mums and dads can play too.

(Answers will be in next month’s edition)

Question #1
From left to right, name these 4 legends.

Question #4
How many grand slams have the 4 players won in total?
a) 56 b)63 c)69 d)72

Question #2
True or False
All 4 of these players have won all 4 grand slams?

Question #5
One of these players has been crowned the “King of Clay”, who is it?
And what is his win/loss record at Roland Garros (French Open)?

Question #3
From which country does each legend hail from?

Question #6
Which of these players holds the most grand slams? How many have they got?

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

The harder I work, the luckier I get…
- Andy Murray