English teenage tennis ace Tom Walker has become the youngest coach in the world to attain the sports highest ranking professional qualifications writes Greg Sologub.
The 19-year old from York, North Yorkshire went through a gruelling examination of his playing and coaching skills in London to become a Level 4 performance tennis coach.
Having also picked up the Professional Tennis Director Award, the Registry of Professional Tennis Master Professional Award and the United States Professional Tennis Association Professional 1 Award, Tom is now the world’s youngest to achieve the levels recognised by the top professional governing bodies of tennis, including the International Tennis Federation.
Walker, who started playing tennis when he was nine and picked up his first coaching qualification at 15, is a full time professional at the David Lloyd Club in York and tennis coach director at his local tennis club, Fulford.
He also plays National League division 1 tennis for local team Fulford and has represented them in the York league division one from an early age. Walker was also a winning member of another local club, Pocklington who won the men’s premier division in 2009. Walker say’s his main aim is to become a top a top coach on the professional tennis tour.
“I get more out of coaching,” he said. “I prefer to create champions rather than be one myself. I am very proud to be recognised internationally with these awards.
I get a real buzz out of teaching tennis and it’s a great feeling to see someone improving rapidly through your coaching.
“I coach a lot of different people of different age groups and ability and I have got some good youngsters coming through who are playing quite well”
Walker is currently working with the City of York council and Lawn Tennis Association to establish strong links between schools and clubs to encourage more children to take up the sport.
The work doesn’t stop there as Walker is now developing a grass roots Tennis Tots scheme, where pre-school children are taught agility, balance and co-ordination skills.
“You don’t have to be as good as Andy Murray to enjoy tennis, but it would be brilliant if I could help to discover the next Wimbledon champion” added Walker.