“If Dunblane can nurture a Wimbledon champion, why not Findhorn or Forres?” - new Findhorn Tennis Club professional coach Carl Gavine believes Andy Murray’s success story can inspire Moray players to become the very best
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A tennis coach who has worked with some of the sport’s leading lights has been appointed as Findhorn Tennis Club’s professional coach.
Carl Gavine believes Moray could produce a future talent with the same fairytale story of Andy Murray, who came from the small town of Dunblane and went on to be a multiple Grand Slam champion.
The coach has been employed at five star tennis resorts and clubs overseas, and held camps with players who have won some of tennis’ major championships.
He will host junior taster sessions at Findhorn later this week and sees no reason why the village cannot product a great tennis player for the future.
"Tennis has been my passport to the world and now I find myself in beautiful Findhorn ready to serve local players of all ages and abilities,” he said.
“If Dunblane can nurture a Wimbledon champion, why not Findhorn or Forres?”
Gavine’s vast international experience has taken him across the glove. He was based at a tennis club in Florida for 19 years, seven years in Puerto Rico, two on a private island near Antigua in the Caribbean and another two years as the national head coach of the British overseas territory of Anguilla.
He has hosted training camps for ATP and WTA Tour top ten players including former French Open winner and world number one, Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Ferrer, JoWilfried Tsonga, Fernando Verdasco, Nicolas Almagro and the Rio Olympics 2016 women’s singles gold medal winner Monica Puig.
During his stint in Florida, some of his junior students won United States National Games gold medals and Florida State Championships and have been awarded lucrative scholarships at Division 1 universities.
Gavine’s career had also involved coaching wheelchair, Down Syndrome and autistic tennis players, for whom the sport has had a massive impact on their confidence and daily lives.
He said his tennis programme at Findforn will cater for all ages and abilities.
“And, if you hung up your racket a while ago, it's time to dust off the cobwebs and fall in love with the game all over again,” he said. “I can't wait to get started.”
This week, on May 16 and 17, he will begin junior taster sessions, each lasting 40 minutes and limited to a maximum of four children per group, in order to guarantee a rewarding experience.
The weekly programme of events will include private and group lessons, doubles round robin mixer tournaments and even groups for those players with rusty rackets who would like to get back in the game.
All lessons and events, including the taster sessions, are open to members and non-members and are by appointment only.
For more information or to book a place, call 07928 288433 or email tennishusa@aol.com.
