Tennis ace here to serve Tweed Coast

By MARGARET DEKKER

He’s the tennis pro with a CV as long as his right hitting arm.

Ranked Number 14 on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters Singles tour in 2015; 18 years’ coaching at the grand Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne; a 12-month coaching gig at the home of Australian tennis, Melbourne Park; currently #224 in the ITF Singles 55+ ranking; a weekly competitor on the Gold Coast circuit; and coming up, the prestigious TSA Oceania Championships, this counter-punch player with passion for the game - dressed in his whites and carefully groomed - even counts 80’s poster-boy Pat Cash as a formal rival, who pipped him for a place in a Davis Cup squad.

But today Domenic Gambaro counts his Head Coach role at picturesque Pottsville Beach Tennis Club in the heart of the village with the ocean lulling and tennis-kids buzzing, as a new high in a 40-year tennis career.

You could say it’s 40 .. love.

“I didn’t expect this!

Leaving Kooyong was a tough gig after many years and being under the guidance of Glenn Busby but for some fortuitous reason, to move up to the Northern Rivers, Tweed Heads, it was more about getting practice, playing competition, but somewhere along the line life throws you a curveball, a good one,” Dom Gambaro, tennis pro said.

Dom initially coached at Tweed Heads Tennis Club but last September, took on the Head Coach role in Pottsville.

“I thought, ‘why not?’ a small community, I loved the look of it when I first came here and saw it, and it just suits to my capacity, it has growth and I got to meet the committee at the time, and we were all on the same page,” Dom

Squad, U18, Adult and more. The energetic classes come complete with branded t-shirts for players, tote bags, drink bottles and sunscreen, adding to the professionalism. The Junior Memberships have doubled, and Adult remember still, hitting that ball over and I just loved the sound of it, that’s what I was hooked on, that and the competition,” Dom Gambaro, Tennis pro said.

“We’re kind of like our own explorers out on the court .. to reach our own summit, as best we can.”

There are now waiting lists to join the Academy, but Dom keeps classes small to best apply the ‘KITA’ methodology, developed and refined by the Kooyong International Tennis Academy, breaking tennis down into 4 key aspects of learning: Physical, Tactical, Technical and Mental skill.

Players have come from around the world for this kind of coaching –Monica Seles for one is an alumni – and now it’s on offer in Pottsville!

“And why not, if you want to learn the best you’ve got to bring the best .. trying to get

“It’s a great learning trade.”

Dom also believes in his own creativity in lessons, backed by a strong ‘immigrant workethic’ and his Italian heritage and flair, applied now in Pottsville Beach.

“I mean who’s ever heard of Pottsville on the map of Australia!

To leave the city to go to the country, it’s not what I expected, but in the same breath it’s great to see my eyes open and there is more to life outside big cities in small towns like Pottsville that are flourishing,” Dom there’s a lot of support to try and get things to grow, the Council is doing enormous effort ..” he added.

A new Pottsville Beach Tennis pro-shop and clubhouse, replacing the current Besser block and verandah building, are the next big goals for club and coach alike.

“We need that for a place like this, to nurture and grow these kids,” Dom Gambaro said.

“It is an individual sport, but you do need a team around you,” he added.

As for the local talent, Dom said it was too early to make a line-call on spotting another Nick Kyrgios or Ajla Tomljanovic in his squads.

“It takes a special quality, work ethic and time, not just talent alone .. and they’ve got to want it.”

For now, young and old tennis players of the Tweed are fortunate to have a coach like Dom in their court.

Gambaro said.

In 6-months at the Club, Dom and partner Janine Chandler have launched the Pottsville Tennis Academy, with daily lessons ranging from 5-8yo Development to Junior Pro, Fixture

Memberships are also growing in an exciting new era at the club, led by a man who’s dedicated his life to the sport.

“At a very young age playing tennis, from the very first time I these kids to be a better version of who they are, better players, going to tournaments, watching and support them, junior kids as young as 8 years of age, why not?” Dom Gambaro, Tennis pro said.

Gambaro, Tennis pro said.

“It’s like any town along the Northern Rivers here, it’s actually amazing, it has the infrastructure, it has the weather, it has the community backing,

“I’ve been very fortunate to have such good mentors, I’m passing this on to those that want the tennis, want the experience that I am happy to give,” Dom Gambaro, Tennis pro said.

“Pursuit of excellence, I’ve always loved that phrase.”