Rave reviews

“I've known David now for over 20 years. I've been fortunate enough to have been on both sides of the court with David. Firstly, during my time as a professional player in the Australian Institute of Sport, where David worked with myself and a number of other professional athletes. I then worked with David as a coach at East Camberwell Tennis Club for several years. To the present day, where both of my children attend lessons with David regularly. My sole reason to return to East Camberwell Tennis Club was because of David and his coaching program. David is one of the most highly regarded and respected coaches in the tennis fraternity. His exceptional tennis knowledge and skills have developed countless players and coaches over the years. Not to mention, David is professional, personable and kind. He cares for all who enter the gates at East Camberwell Tennis Club and continues to develop programs and players of all levels.”

“When I returned to tennis after a 10-year hiatus, I approached David for lessons and was immediately impressed by his coaching. I went on to join his cardio tennis classes, so when our young son started learning to play, we knew David was the right coach for him. David runs his lessons impeccably and has a fantastic way of connecting with children. Our son’s tennis has improved in leaps and bounds and, most importantly, he loves attending his weekly lessons. We also have two younger daughters who, when the time comes, will also learn with David. We couldn’t recommend him more highly as a coach for both adults and children.”

“Our family has been a member of East Camberwell Tennis Club for the past one and a half years. Before joining David Close’s coaching program, our son, Jay, had tried tennis coaching at a few different places. Since starting with David, we have seen a significant improvement in Jay’s skills, confidence, and enjoyment of tennis. Jay really enjoys David’s coaching style. David knows how to engage and teach young players, making learning enjoyable while developing their technique. We particularly appreciate how he uses videos of current professional players to explain techniques and help the children learn. David also encouraged Jay to participate in competitions. Jay’s team finished runners-up in the JDC Orange Ball competition, and this season his Green Ball team finished second on the table and reached the semifinal. Overall, David’s coaching has been wonderful for Jay, and we can clearly see the progress he has made. We greatly appreciate David’s dedication and the positive impact he has had on Jay’s tennis development.”

“Our children, Michelle and William, began playing tennis with Avanti Tennis while still in prep. Since then, their enthusiasm for the sport has grown enormously, so much so that they now ask to play every single day. We credit a great deal of this passion to the quality of coaching they have received under David. David is a remarkable and highly experienced coach with an exceptional eye for detail, particularly when it comes to building sound technique. He draws on a wide range of tools and methods to help each child develop their skills, tailoring his approach to what works best for them individually. In all our years around junior sport, we have never encountered a coach as dedicated as David. It is clear that he genuinely cares about the growth and wellbeing of every student he works with, not just their results on the court. Coaches of this calibre, technically excellent, endlessly dedicated, and genuinely invested in young players, are rare.”

“As an adult recreational player who played a lot of tennis as a kid, I’ve struggled to find clubs that offer fun, inclusive and challenging cardio tennis at a high standard. I had tried out many clubs including Melbourne Park and Albert Reserve, before discovering David’s Tuesday night cardio sessions at East Camberwell and I’ve never looked back. David brings enormous enthusiasm to every session and runs it almost like a squad, with something for everyone. It takes me back to how I felt playing as a junior, lost in the tennis, the fun and wholesome competition. I can wholeheartedly say that David brings endless value to the club, not just in the form of his experience and skills as a tennis coach, but also in his ability to be a natural ambassador for the sport and the club.”

“I have known David and been involved with Avanti Tennis for around 15 years. He introduced all three of my now-adult children to tennis, I have had private lessons with him, and for the past five to seven years I have been a regular at his outstanding cardio tennis sessions. David is one of the finest tennis coaches I have encountered: technically excellent, enthusiastic and encouraging, and equally effective with young children, teenagers and adults of widely varying standards. Just as importantly, he takes a genuine interest in the people he coaches and their families. He has helped make East Camberwell a welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable place to be.”

“David and Dieter have been coaching my four children since they could walk and are largely responsible for them all wanting to pursue tennis. I have observed them over the years and find their approach to coaching to be mature and disciplined but fun. My children are keen tennis players for this reason and without the mentoring from David and Dieter I don’t think they would be showing as much enthusiasm as they do.”

“My daughter, Myra, joined Avanti Tennis at East Camberwell Tennis Club at the age of five, and over the past 1.5 years under David’s coaching she has progressed in leaps and bounds. Tennis has become her favourite sport, and she genuinely looks forward to her lessons every Saturday morning, a testament in itself to how much she enjoys the program. What stands out most to me as a parent is the way David connects with children of that age. He brings genuine finesse to combining proper technical tennis skills with important life skills such as discipline, resilience, and teamwork, all while keeping the sessions full of humour and fun. This balance is not easy to strike, and it is clear he has mastered it through years of experience and real care for his students. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

“I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for all the incredible work that head coach David Close and his team has done with my son, 11-year-old Dean. David has been an outstanding tennis coach since my son joined the club 4 years ago. David’s coaching program has not only improved my son’s tennis skills, but also built his confidence, positive mentality and genuine love for the game. David truly cares about players’ development and always adjusts his lessons to fix targeted problems and weaknesses. Dean enjoys every training session, and as parents we feel grateful to have David as coach because he is influencing my son to become a resilient and optimistic junior young man both on and off the court. Thank you David and team.”

“Our family cannot recommend Avanti Tennis enough. Our kids have developed a real passion for tennis due to the energy and enthusiasm shown by David and his team. David is a welcome sight at our local club, and his insights and expertise are second-to-none. His rapport with youngsters is exceptional and he manages to get everyone motivated regardless of age (plus the dad jokes keep everyone smiling). Thank you David and the Avanti team!”

“I’ve been doing coaching and cardio tennis with David and Dieter for a few months, they are very engaging and keep it fun while I’m working on improving my tennis skills. They are both also coaching two of my kids where they create a great environment for them to learn and enjoy tennis. Thanks guys!”

“I like playing tennis at Avanti tennis club because the teachers are very nice, they make great games, they help me a lot in tennis. Now I know how to do backhands and starting with the ball. They make everything very clear.”

“I have been playing at Avanti Tennis club for a little under a year and in that time, I’ve seen some huge improvements in my tennis skills. At the start of the year I was still at another club but when I arrived at Avanti, the coaches were incredibly welcoming and clearly experienced. Since then I have met a few friends, and going to the club every Saturday morning has to remain the highlight of my week. I am always having fun and laughing while also learning so much at the same time. Over the past year, I have made so many great memories and I am grateful to be a part of such a welcoming and enjoyable environment.”

“David and Dieter have been outstanding tennis coaches, and the impact on my kids has been impressive. Their technical skills, confidence, and understanding of the game have all improved significantly, and it’s clear this comes directly from the high quality coaching and consistent support they receive. David and Dieter’s coaching has not only developed their tennis ability but also their attitude and enjoyment of the sport, which has been fantastic to see. We also really appreciate how David is always there on match days supporting the kids and taking such a genuine interest in how they’re going. It definitely doesn’t go unnoticed!”

“David has been my tennis coach for about five years. His gentle, positive and patient approach keeps our focus on improvement fun. His flexibility and amazing skills means each session and exercise are tailored to our group and where we are at each week. His skill is matched by his knowledge and I have loved learning about the history, players, politics and surprising rules of the game. Bravo David!”

“David is such a friendly, supportive, talented tennis coach that has improved our skills significantly. I want to keep coming back as I feel genuinely supported by him. He knows the right cues and drills to use. His positive reinforcement and encouraging teaching style helps me relax and produce better results. But more importantly than results, David helps me enjoy the game. His memory for everyone’s name and the name of their dogs is excellent. He is an essential part of the community, he ties people together, waving a quick hello to those he knows as they go past.”

“Friday morning tennis with David has been a highlight of our week for the past five years. What started with two of us has grown to six... probably the best testament to how much we love it. David is a brilliant coach. He’s patient, encouraging and always keeping things fresh while building our core skills. He somehow knows exactly what we need each week and, with his phenomenal memory, never forgets what each of us is working on. Five years in, we’re still improving, still laughing and still loving Friday mornings. Couldn’t recommend David more highly.”

“I’ve only just started lessons with David myself, but have known him from when my children have had lessons with him and played for the club in the past and it is clear how extremely dedicated and loyal he is, both to the club and to his coaching clients. From my very first lesson, his approach helped me relax and make real, noticeable progress right away. As a late learner, that experience has been incredibly motivating and has genuinely made me excited to keep improving. What stands out most to me is how David carries himself as the face of the club. He’s an outstanding ambassador: everyone who walks in, or even just passes by the courts, calls out “hello David!” It’s clear he’s not just well known, but genuinely well liked and respected by everyone who crosses his path.”

““Low to high!” you tell us, as we swing away, “Champagne!” for the volleys, we’ll get there someday. “Big nose!” for the finish, “Split step!” for the feet, If it weren’t for our chit chat, we would be elite! Always keeping it fresh, always mixing our drills, You’re amazing at teaching and developing our skills. With words of encouragement, and one-on-one tips, Our techniques have gone from the pits to the biz. You feed us the shots we can actually hit, So for five glorious seconds, we look quite legit. Then comes your serve; not a chance, not a prayer, A reminder you nearly went pro once there. You know every person and dog that passes, And even allow pooches to come to our classes, Six years, no trophies, but plenty of fun, The best tennis coach? We’d say you’re the one.”

“David is an exceptional tennis coach and such an integral part of the tennis community. His passion for the game, genuine care for his players and ability to make every session both challenging and fun make him a standout coach. He’s constantly coming up with new and creative activities to introduce and practise skills, keeping sessions fresh, engaging and never boring. His encouragement, energy and infectious enthusiasm bring out the best in everyone, while also creating a fantastic sense of community. I feel incredibly lucky to have David as my coach.”

“My family and I moved from the country to Camberwell 3 years ago. My son started tennis lessons pretty soon after this. David has made tennis an amazing experience for him. He has gone on to play in the A’s for his school. Tennis aside, David knows everyone’s name, and makes a real effort to greet me and my two other children by their name. These qualities are rare these days. We feel very grateful for David and his team.”