Interview with David Lewis, Director of Instruction at Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy

Here is an interview with David Lewis. David is a native of Auckland, New Zealand, is the director of instruction at Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy. For the past 20 years, he has coached top tennis juniors and professionals around the world including Marina Erakovic, ranked as high as No.49 on the WTA world rankings.

Please give a brief overview of Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy. What is a difference from other academies?

Our tennis academy offers an infrastructure providing three very important components: elite tennis training, prestigious academics and campus housing with 24-hour supervision. The Heritage Academy allows flexibility with academics for students to keep a well-balanced schedule so they can travel to tournaments. We train on clay and hard court surfaces, preparing students for events on both surfaces. Finally, Ivan Lendl’s presence and interaction with the students cannot be replicated.

What is the application process at Ivan Lendl IJTA? Any selection criteria?

Ivan Lendl IJTA is open to junior players who are serious about pursuing their passion for tennis.

Who are the other coaches? How do they train?

I serve as Director of Instruction and Christian Coley is also a full-time coach. The Academy focuses daily instruction on classic fundamentals, leading-edge biomechanics, strength training / fitness and mental preparation. We subscribe to a hands-on approach with juniors, instilling dedication, focus, hard work, motivation and overall preparation.

What are your goals for Ivan Lendl IJTA? Do you want to develop Grand Slam champion?

We want each student to have a wonderful experience and help them reach their personal goals. Ultimately, we are preparing our juniors for competition and providing life skills. No doubt we would love to develop a Grand Slam champion. It would be an amazing feat for our Tennis Academy.

There are a lot of tennis academies in America but only a few make it to the professional level. How do you plan to help players reach their full potential?

Ivan Lendl tennis academy subscribes to a proven method and philosophies, which Ivan followed to become one of the greatest players in tennis history, a career highlighted by eight Grand Slams.

Why have U.S. tennis players lost their leadership in world tennis?

Globalization of tennis has opened the way for many countries to compete with the rest of the world. The modern game is now being played more from the baseline and Europeans are leading the way. As juniors, they train on clay tennis courts, helping them develop better ball striking skills.

Can you please give three pieces of advice for junior tennis players, parents and coaches?  

Develop a strong passion for the game. As a parent, be supportive of your children and help them achieve their goals, whatever they might be. Each tennis coach should try and develop a style which best suits their players’ character and athletic abilities.

Thank you for the interview David. I wish you and Ivan Lendl best of luck!