Esther tells us why practice makes perfect...
Esther Gillham
Inspired by Andre Agassi from a young age, Esther continues to dominate the baseline and aims for that perfect ace!
I first got into tennis when I had to do a project in school on a famous person and chose Andre Agassi! I learned everything about him and decided I wanted to give it a go myself. I must have been about 10 years old and after that went every week to sessions at my local club in Norwich. After a long break in my twenties, I decided to pick it up again when I moved to London and play with friends.
Tennis is great for me because I love being outside, the fact there is always more to learn, and the relationships you build with other players and the local community by playing. I saw the posters advertising the league in Haringey and thought it would be a good way to get regular games in and meet some new people. I have looked back since!
Playing in the league has significantly improved my game over time. You play so many different people, with different styles so it really stretches you and pushes you to adapt your approach. When I first started out playing matches in the league, I got a lot of feedback that my serve let me down. I really concentrated on that, practicing the serve over and over again, and it’s really improved over the years. Now I sometimes even get an ace! I also have found that I love playing at the baseline so tend to stay there as much as possible!
Now that tennis is back, I’m coping a lot better in this post lockdown phase! My top tip to feel better physically and mentally is to get out and play. It will make a huge difference, especially if you join a local league! Try doubles and singles if you can to really mix up your game. I have loved it and would recommend it to everyone!