Mar 11, 2019

The Final Chapter

It’s been over a year now since Greg put down his competitive tennis racquets and called quits on his professional tennis playing career. After a litany of repetitive injuries and the continually harder task of getting match fit, he decided it was time to give up the week to week existence of travelling to a new destination, a new place, a new tennis centre, to compete. It was time to settle down in one place and re-unite with his family and close friends, and let his body repair.
Greg and Venus

He has maintained his ties with tennis, coaching at a private school in Melbourne, playing tennis for Kooyong and hitting with aspiring young tennis players, and some pro-tour players, at Melbourne Park. He is also studying part-time, so is keeping quite busy, and enjoying being in the same place every week.
In the past year he has also been fortunate to be the hitting partner of two prominent WTA players during the Australian summer of tennis, with Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki in 2018, and then in 2019 with tennis legend Venus Williams. Both were very interesting, as well as very different experiences, seeing how the top female players went about their training, hitting and preparation for their matches. Invaluable experience for Greg.
Kooyong Champion 2018
In February 2018 Greg participated in the Kooyong Tennis Club championships for the first time, winning the Men’s singles title and the mixed doubles title, partnered with Sally Peers.  As a result of those wins he was invited to join the Kooyong team in Wimbledon in July 2018 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Wimbledon grass court club.
Kooyong Club was one of about 12 clubs around the world to join the Wimbledon Club in almost a week of celebration, playing in a less than serious tournament, playing croquet, lunches on the club terrace, cocktail parties and a grand ball. It was an amazing experience and Greg got to meet some great people from all over the world and see behind the scenes at Wimbledon.
Greg and Dave 2019
Following his stint as hitting partner with Venus Williams, Greg is back coaching at a private school, enjoying success with raising the level of the school's tennis and playing for Kooyong. He recently played in the 2019 club championship, narrowly missing out winning the final, going down narrowly 57 67 to current pro-tour player Andrew Whittington, but coming from a set down to win the doubles title, with good mate Dave Bidmeade.
So as Greg ends his tennis playing career, he continues his career in tennis.


It has been a fascinating period of his life, travelling to diverse and exotic locations, and experiencing many different cultures. A time full of adventure, trepidation, elation, and disappointment. Some fun times and some hard slog. A journey of discovery, learning and growth.

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