Tennis coaching in Newcastle

How It All Began

Tennis has always been part of Newcastle’s sporting heartbeat. The Newcastle Tennis Club, founded in 1909, is one of the oldest in New South Wales, while the Newcastle & District Tennis Association (NDTA), formed in 1912, created the framework for competitions across the Hunter. District Park soon became the hub for both social and competitive play, its courts filled year-round thanks to the city’s coastal climate.

By the 1950s, Newcastle tennis was strong enough to support senior and junior tournaments, and the NDTA Junior Branch launched in 1957 to boost youth participation. The shift to synthetic courts in 1981 modernised facilities, ensuring the sport could thrive in all seasons.

From Local Courts to Local Legends

The 1970s and 1980s were Newcastle’s golden era of players who left a mark on national and international tennis.

• Rod Brent – Born in Newcastle, Rod played Junior Davis Cup alongside John Newcombe. He reached the 3rd round of the Australian Open in 1962 and the 2nd round of the US Open in 1971. Coached by his father, local coach Frank Brent.

• Chris O’Neil – The Newcastle-born star became the first unseeded woman to win the Australian Open in 1978, a landmark achievement in the Open Era. She also won the Australian junior crown in 1973.

• Ray Keldie – A fierce competitor in the late '60s and early '70s. 1968 -Mens Australian Doubles Championships (with Terry Addison). Grand Slam Singles best results: 3rd Round at the Australian Open (1968), Wimbledon (1973), and the US Open (1966 & 1967).

• Peter Doohan – Known worldwide as the “Becker Wrecker,” he shocked Wimbledon in 1987 by defeating world No. 1 Boris Becker. Doohan reached a career-high singles ranking of 43 and doubles ranking of 15, cementing his place as one of Newcastle’s proudest sporting sons.

The 1990s: A New Wave

The 1990s saw another wave of Hunter talent:

• Trudi Musgrave – Junior Grand Slam champion at the 1994 Australian Open girls’ singles, later reaching world No. 62 in doubles with 41 ITF titles.

• Jane Taylor – From nearby Maitland, she broke through as a 16-year-old wildcard at the 1994 Australian Open, later achieving a career-high singles ranking of 126.

• Rachel McQuillan – Born and raised in Newcastle, McQuillan shone on the world stage from the mid 80s- 2003s. She reached a career-high of world No. 28 in singles and No. 15 in doubles. Her accolades include 14 ITF Singles Titles, and getting to the Round of 16 in three of the four Majors, 5 WTA Doubles Titles, Bronze in Doubles in Barcelona, Grand Slam mixed doubles semi-finals: French Open (1995, 1998) and US Open (1996) and Long time representitive for Australia in Fed Cup competition.
  

Community Spirit On and Off the Court

Newcastle’s tennis culture has always been anchored in community. Tournaments such as the Newcastle Open and Australian Money Tournaments (AMTs) gave local juniors a chance to compete with state and national players. Veterans’ competitions ensured lifelong participation, keeping players engaged well into their senior years.

Volunteers, local clubs, and social competitions created a vibrant atmosphere where tennis was more than a sport — it was part of Newcastle’s social fabric.

Where We Are Now

Today, Newcastle boasts more than 60 courts across 14 centres. From community clubs to modern training hubs, facilities continue to expand under the city’s Tennis Strategy to 2031, which focuses on infrastructure upgrades and growing participation.

Tennis remains woven into Newcastle’s lifestyle — with grassroots programs, school tennis, social comps, and high-performance training all thriving.

Your Coach

Stephen O’Malley 
Tennis Australia Qualified Member
Level 2 ATPCA and GPTCA B (ATP Challenger Tour) Certified Coach
Semi-finalist – 2022 Men's Australian Singles Championships (35s)

Book your private lesson with Stephen O’Malley today at Hamilton’s Gregson Park courts. 

Tennis Express