16 January 2023 | Tennis Victoria

Marco Persi is the Director and Head Tennis Coach at Bounce and Hit. With over 20 years of tennis coaching experience, Persi is a certified Tennis Australia Junior Development and Club Professional Coach. Marco is also the Wheelchair Development Coach for Tennis Australia. As Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson’s first wheelchair coach, Marco has extensive experience in developing successful athletes.

 

Marco’s Wheelchair Tennis journey started around 20 years ago. Heath Davidson’s dad called up the centre he was working at at the time and asked if he could coach him. At the time, Marco had no experience coaching Wheelchair Tennis but gave it a shot. Marco said they have “grown together” in experience, technique.

 

“We got a long really well. Heath was getting better and better with every session. After 3-6 months, Dylan Alcott joined them too.”

 

Twenty years later, those two young kids have been representing Australia and making everyone proud.

 

For Marco, being part of the Wheelchair Tennis environment has been a positive journey from the start. At the time when Heath’s dad approached him, having no experienced coaching Wheelchair tennis did not stop him.

 

“I think as a coach you have to go yep it’s tennis, it’s different, its modified but the basics are still there. It’s giving everyone the opportunity to have access to a tennis court and to play. It gives kids or adults the opportunity to play tennis and find a way to enjoy themselves.”

 

Marco believes it has positive impacts on clubs and associations to involve Wheelchair tennis.

 

“For all the people around the club to be around a different environment and being inspired by them, you think if they’re out there doing it and giving their all regardless of their limitations, they are finding a way and it is inspiring. I think being around all kinds of tennis helps clubs grow and people around the club to grow their acceptance and knowledge of people with disabilities.”

 

Over the years, Marco has had some experiences along the way as a coach that will stick with him forever.

“Seeing Heath at Wimbledon was a proud moment. It’s really just seeing Heath and Dylan accomplish things they thought they would never dream of and kicking goals. In general, just being a part of the journey and be able to share a little bit of their journey with them is my highlight.”

 

Being able to see Dylan and Heath’s legacy is another proud moment for Marco, seeing where the sport is now from where it started.

 

“It is rewarding being part of the wheelchair environment for so long and seeing where the boys started to now; they’re inspiring other kids. It’s so nice to see when other kids push up to Heath and Dylan and they know who they are. It shows that the sport is growing and these kids growing up are having these role models and heroes they can look up to and say ‘when am I going to be like Heath and Dylan’ – it’s special.”

 

At Bounce and Hit, Marco believes it’s not just about the tennis fundamentals.

 

“We teach more than how to hit a ball. Anybody that wants to play can come and play. We’re not just creating good tennis players, we’re creating good people. That’s our aim for kids to fall in love with tennis and along the way.”

 

Marco was with the Bounce and Hit kids for Kids on Court today for Day One of the Australian Open, being part of a special day for all the players involved.

 

Catch Heath and the Wheelchair Tennis in week 2 the Australian Open!