Simon Harston

[simone]

1. What is your name?

Simon Harston

2. Where were you born?

Leytonstone, London

3. How old you were when you started playing tennis?

18 months old

4. Who was your influence to start playing?

My dad

5. Which coach do you remember in the most positive light and why?

John Whiteford- invested a huge amount of time and effort in to my tennis over many years. Honourable mention to Phil Lochrie who made the brave decision to change me from a double to a single handed backhand at the age of 15.

6. The best moment of your playing career and why?

Winning my one and only Futures semi final against Jamie Baker from a set and a break down.

The worst moment?

Realising that my shoulder injury was serious enough to stop me from competing.

7. Why coaching?

Because I love tennis and want to stay in the game.

8. Why David Lloyd Academy?

Because of the drive, enthusiasm and passion of all those involved, and I am sure that the academy is going to go from strength to strength in the coming years.

9. In which part of coaching tennis do you think that you are special?

The mental aspect of the game.

10. Tell me more about your speciality?

Having studied psychology at university and competed at an international level myself, I have the theoretical knowledge and practical experience to understand how players feel and behave in the pressurised environment of tournament tennis. That understanding allows you to modify and control your own behaviour (and therefore concentrate on the game), and at the same time exploit any mental weaknesses that you can recognise in your opponent.

11. Advice for young players?

Take responsibility for your own game and push yourself 100% all the time. And if you stop enjoying the game, then stop playing.

12. Advice for tennis parents?

Give your child as much responsibility as possible for their tennis.

13. Advice for new coaches?

Don’t ever think that you know it all.