ASK LUKE

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visit: www.nsta.com.au

ASK LUKE

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uke Bourgeois: Head Coach Voyager Tennis: ATP world ranking 262 singles, ATP world ranking 169 doubles, winning over 500 professional matches, wins include Murray, Ferrer, Kiefer. Coached by Tony Roche 01-07, Federer’s hitting partner 05-07 1. How did you become a Tour Professional? I grew up in the North Shore – as the youngest member of a big tennis loving family. I did the same training as lots of other kids but I would also do a lot of work on my own. I remember being 12 and hitting volleys against a wall for days on end - getting comfortable with the continental grip; the correct contact point; and stepping in. I would practice my serve 5 days a week - placing targets around the service box and challenging myself to games. I made each practice session a learning experience - not just going through the motions. I was pretty serious about getting fit. I did hundreds of crunches and push-ups every night – and I would run 3-5 ks a few times a week. I would watch players very closely on TV – and try to copy what they did. I’d copy their service action, their footwork, how and when they moved forward, where they stood to receive volleys. I would try lots of different stuff when playing with friends and family – slicing, squash shots, backhand smashes, touch shots – experimenting, trying to improve my feel for the game. But perhaps most important of all I really owned my game. As I saw it – it was up to me to have the right attitude. Of course I got lots of help from others – my mum, my brothers, my coaches, my tennis mates - and I’m massively grateful to all of them – but it was always down to me to make it count. I have just one piece of advice for players who want to improve – OWN IT! That said, my big turning point was crossing PAGE 18

paths with Kim Warwick. I was Kim’s first pupil after he moved back from Florida. Kim provided the spark that motivated me to really compete. Under his guidance I went from 55th in NSW at 15 to the Number 1 Junior in the country - in just 18 months. I was picked to join the AIS. I had my first ITF Australian Tour to South Africa and was selected for the Australian team to go to Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

good enough to need to travel that far to find healthy competition. They also gave me the opportunity to work on my game without having to worry about points or rankings. I think younger players need to think carefully about which tournaments to enter. And what they hope to achieve by playing in them.

4. You won over 500 professional matches - what were your ‘winning’ patterns? Hit a wide serve – hoping to At 17 I played in my first Australian Open get a return on my forehand – drive the - and earned my first ATP point. This put ball deep and wide – follow in to the net me on the radar of US College coaches – volley! Repeat! Use my backhand to and I was approached to join Harvard. I neutralize his attack – get on my forehand had a tough decision – take a US College - drive the ball deep and wide – follow pathway or turn Pro. With regret I decided in to the net – volley! Repeat! Simple. on the latter – I think Harvard would have Effective. been an amazing 5. What’s it like working with Federer? experience. I worked with Federer for 2 1/2 years However, I was – working in training blocks of 3 weeks very fortunate at a time - helping him prepare for big that I had the tournaments – working on patterns opportunity to of play – working on 5 set matches – work with Pat and improving technicalities. Fed is a Rafter and Wally consummate professional: very thorough Masur under the in his preparation, very focused on what tutelage of Tony he is trying to achieve, very disciplined. Roche. This set He works incredibly hard to be that good. me up in many He has an amazing array of talents – ways as I went on shot-making, movement, anticipation, to work with Tony for 7 years. fitness – and can play multiple game 2. How did you fit in tennis and school? Getting the balance between school, tennis and home-life was always a challenge. Mum and I would be hotfooting it to squads before and after school through Sydney traffic - homework would start at 9pm. This problem would be very familiar to a lot of readers. To this day I have to thank my mum for all she did for me. But it was tough on both of us. That’s the reason we integrated our Sydney Olympic Park daytime program with McDonald College. It allows kids to get a first class education and world-class tennis program - and be home by 6pm every day! You can read all about it on our website www. voyagertennis.com 3. What’s the difference between playing local comp and tournaments? Local comps mean playing close to home. As a youngster I didn’t want to spend hours in the car. My level wasn’t

styles to the very highest level. A typical training day would include 4 hours hitting; 1 hour strength and conditioning; 1 hour recovery (massage, stretching). As a person he is very playful – he loves a good prank – but he is very intelligent and thoughtful. Off court he likes to watch soccer; loves fine dining, and loves his PlayStation. 6. How can people contact you if they have any questions? Please email me: luke@ voyagertennis.com I look forward to hearing from you.