Prepare with Heath Davidson: “Push arduous and swing by way of the ball” | 13 September, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Australia’s top-ranked wheelchair participant Heath Davidson shares worthwhile recommendation in our “Prepare with the Professionals” collection.

Melbourne, Australia, 13 September 2024 | Jackson Mansell

Heath Davidson is among the world’s finest quad wheelchair tennis gamers.

The 37-year-old from Melbourne is a four-time Grand Slam doubles champion and has been ranked as excessive as world No.1 in doubles and world No.3 in singles.

His spectacular resume additionally consists of Paralympic Video games gold and silver medals, received in doubles alongside shut buddy Dylan Alcott.

Davidson has constructed a popularity as being a beautiful mentor for aspiring gamers and at all times finds time to help the Australian juniors arising in wheelchair tennis. In our Prepare with the Professionals collection, Davidson provides recommendation on how you can carry out finest on the apply courtroom.

Do you might have a favorite time of day to apply?

Early within the morning so I can get dwelling and play COD (Name of Responsibility).

What number of hours per week, on common, would you spend on the apply courtroom?

I can’t give away my secrets and techniques on that one, but when I’m being trustworthy, not as a lot as I ought to.

Do you might have a favorite a part of your recreation to work on?

I really like hitting drop photographs. I’m at all times making an attempt to be inventive on the courtroom. I suppose the extra I apply that, the extra it exhibits up in my matches.

Do you might have a least favorite a part of your recreation to work on?

Undoubtedly overheads, I hate them. I don’t know why I preserve going for them however it’s actually arduous to regulate in a wheelchair to an overhead. As soon as the ball will get that tiny bit too excessive or the wind takes it, it’s robust.

Are you able to bear in mind the primary skilled participant you had a chance to apply with?

Would you name Dylan Alcott a professional? (laughs) No, I used to be actually lucky that after I got here again to enjoying tennis – me and Dylan we’re so shut, we’ve recognized one another for 23 years – so, I used to be straight again onto the courtroom with him. He was beneficiant sufficient to present me his time, as a result of I used to be rubbish after I got here again. However six months later, one thing clicked, and I began to play tennis once more.

Are there any gamers on tour you’d love the chance to apply with?

Aryna Sabalenka. I feel she’s superior. She loves to bop and has enjoyable together with her staff, so if I may get on the market with Sabalenka, it might be fairly cool.

What recommendation would you share with an aspiring participant making an attempt to get probably the most out of a coaching session?

Coaching is a superb alternative so that you can work on how you’d be on courtroom in a match, as every part you do in coaching will relate to what you do on courtroom. So practice such as you would play in a match with high-intensity ranges, push arduous, swing by way of the ball and simply preserve slugging it out.

Lastly, if you happen to had 5 minutes remaining in a session and will do something you would like, what would it not be?

I really like doing returns, simply getting extra comfy swinging by way of the returns. Returning would most likely be considered one of my favorite components of apply.

> READ MORE: From our “Prepare with the professionals” collection

Discover your approach to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!