Get to know: Coach Henry

Q: How would you describe your coaching style and the way you connect with your players?

Henry: I describe my coaching style as direct and indirect. Sometimes I tell the players what to do but also, I like to ask questions to get them to think for themselves. To connect with my players, I try to get to know them outside of Tennis, like what their other hobbies are or what other sports they may do and just have a bit of fun and muck around with them.

Q: If you could have a theme song play every time you walk onto the court, what would it be?

Henry: AFL - North Melbourne Kangaroos Theme Song

Q: What's your pet peeve when it comes to coaching tennis?

Henry: Kids being disengaged, sometimes when they don’t want to be on court it’s really hard to coach them. But you try to work around that and find a way to engage them with activities that they can interact in.

Q: What is a highlight of your coaching journey so far?

Henry: Definitely would be moving from Melbourne to Auckland and taking on this role with Tennis Life as one of the lead coaches.

Q: What do you like the most about being a part of the Tennis Life team?

Henry: We’re more than just colleagues, we’ve become friends and hang out outside of work.

Q: When you're not on court, what's something you like to do in your spare time?

Henry: I like to go to the gym, work out and sauna. I enjoy anything active, all kinds of sports, and hanging out with my mates.

Q: Who would be in your dream doubles/mixed doubles team (celebrity or pro)?

Henry: Kobe Bryant. I know he would be mentally locked in as soon as he walked on court, and he’d want to try and take down the team on the other side of the net.

Q: If you could spend a week with a professional player and their team, who would it be and why?

Henry: Right now, it would be Jannik Sinner’s team, because he is currently coached by a very good Australian coach Darren Cahill. Who has coached a lot of world number ones on both the men and women side, and it would just be cool to learn off them and see how he interacts with his players.