Melbourne, Australia, 7 December 2013 | MLC Tennis Hot Shots

South Australian tennis coach David Grainger is the winner of the 2013 Australian Tennis Award for MLC Tennis Hot Shots Coaching Excellence.

Grainger, from the Henley South Tennis Club, received the award at the Newcombe Medal gala presentation evening in Melbourne.

“This award means everything to me,” he said. “Without the support of the club I work with and the district, as well as Tennis Australia this wouldn’t be possible so I really appreciate the recognition.”

Grainger becomes the fourth winner of the award, which is now presented annually, and is the first South Australian coach to receive the honour. He beat a strong field to win the award, which included finalists Helen Rice of Belair and Craig Haslam of Warrandyte.

“It was a very strong field of finalists. Helen is from South Australia too and I know she goes great things and has done for many years. I’m still quite shocked that I have been given this award. I would like to think it is my enthusiasm and wanting to keep evolving that has given me this award,” he said.

Read the full story at hotshots.tennis.com.au.