Left: Paul Kleverlaan has had a successful tennis career and is still enjoying the sport 30 years after starting.By Marc McGowan
THE tennis career of Cranbourne’s Paul Kleverlaan has been an interesting journey and one that continues to produce highlights.
Kleverlaan’s latest achievement in the sport is back-to-back victories on the International Tennis Federation men’s senior tour in Merimbula and Mildura.
The Mildura triumph came over the Melbourne Cup weekend and has the 37-year-old on track to match his highest world senior ranking of number four in 2005.
“I won both tournaments two years ago, but injuries slowed me last year,” Kleverlaan said.
“I’ve played about eight tournaments in the last 12 months, but I’ve kept getting stuck at the semi-finals.
“I’m hoping to break into the top 10 in the world again.”
Kleverlaan, who is currently ranked 48th but still has the points he won in Mildura to come, decided to bypass his professional dreams as an 18-year-old for the safer route of tennis coaching.
He coaches at Casey Tennis Centre in Narre Warren and Casey Fields Tennis Centre in Cranbourne East.
But it has not held him back from several memorable experiences, including facing the power-packed game of Mark Philippoussis in the Victorian Open many years ago and playing in Europe, South Africa and New Zealand.
Kleverlaan has also enjoyed much success at Victorian pennant level, where he has played State Grade for Dingley, Dendy Park and Kooyong tennis clubs.
“I like that it can be both an individual or team sport and the fact it is not a time-orientated sport – you can have a quick match or be battling out there for hours,” he said.
“I’ve been coaching for 20 years and I still get a real buzz when I see a player I coached 15 years ago still in the game.
“You introduce so many people to the sport and to still have them in the game is a real buzz – just seeing them enjoying their tennis whatever level they’re playing.”
Much of Kleverlaan’s energies nowadays go towards enhancing the opportunities for local up-and-coming players.
Last month it was announced that Casey Tennis Centre and Casey Fields Tennis Centre would host the first annual Casey Junior Masters, coinciding with the first week of the Australian Open in January.
The tennis clubs will also share the Casey Classic Open Tournament between 20 and 23 September.
Kleverlaan is hoping to add further events to the calendar, while also continuing to pursue a State Grade side for Casey.
His next accomplishment in the game is still in the works – a Tennis Australia Diploma of Business at Deakin University.
“It’s a one-year course and I’m completing the last unit at the moment. I’m hoping we’ll receive our graduate certificates at the Australian Open,” Kleverlaan said.
“It is specifically about running and building up a commercial tennis centre and it’s quite a good course.”
