WHEN you think about well-known Belgian tennis players, the names Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin spring to mind.
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In recent times, their male equivalent of Xavier Malisse and David Goffin would only be remembered by the most ardent of tennis fans.
Ahead of this weekend’s Junior Development Series in Port Macquarie, 22-year-old Belgian Louis Beugnies will give Sunday’s competition a bit of an international flavour.
Beugnies arrived in the Hastings only six weeks ago and has been coaching at East Port Macquarie Tennis Club ever since.
After growing up playing on the clay courts of Belgium, Beugnies will offer something different for his opponents in division one on Sunday.
He had a brief stint at junior professional level after picking up his first racquet at the age of five, before injuries ended any hope he had of making it on the world stage.
“I had a little problem with my knee and my shoulder so I’m just a tennis teacher now,” Beugnies said.
“I like to play one tournament a year and to do so in Port Macquarie is a great experience for me.”
I had a little problem with my knee and my shoulder so I’m just a tennis teacher now.
- Louis Beugnies
While Beugnies has only been in town for a month and a half, he has already noticed the significant differences in the way Australians play to the way tennis is played in Europe.
“You like to finish the points quickly and volley a lot so for me, to play the Australian way is to serve-volley,” he said.
“The players and the tennis is a lot different (in Australia) to Europe because the surface is fast, but it’s different.
“It requires a little adaptation, but I like the surface.”
Port Macquarie’s international representative will provide some different challenges for his opponents.
Growing up playing on a clay court means he is likely to take his opponent out of court with angles.
He admitted it was difficult to compare clay court and grass court styles.
“I don’t play on clay here, so it’s hard to compare to the clay courts back home,” he said.
“I would say it’s different though because I meet people who play on clay here and the clay is better in Europe.”
You like to finish the points quickly and volley a lot so for me, to play the Australian way is to serve-volley.
- Louis Beugnies
Beugnies will be in Port Macquarie for six months where he will continue to run coaching classes.
He said not only did he enjoy coaching, it also allowed him to improve his English speaking skills.
“I came over here six weeks ago and normally I stay for six months so it’s good for my English,” he said.
“My first day here was incredible because it was my first experience speaking English.”
The Junior Development Series will be held at Eastport and Westport Tennis Clubs between 8.30am and 2pm on Sunday.
