Melba Tennis Club

Coaches' Profiles

The Melba Tennis Club coaching programs are designed, developed and implemented by former touring professionals Alun Jones and Damien Ward.

Alun Jones

Alun Jones, a local of Canberra, was one of ACT's top ranked juniors having trained at the ACT Academy of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport. Alun competed in numerous tournaments within Australia and overseas achieving a ranking high of 123 in the world. Alun made his Australian Open debut in 2000 losing in a close 3 set match to former world No. 1 and 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero. Alun's recent results include a close 4 set encounter with the then No. 2 world ranked Rafael Nadal at the 2007 US Open. At the 2008 Australian Open Alun won his first round match against Albert Montanes but lost in the next round once again to Juan Carlos Ferrero. In 2008 Alun was selected to play Davis Cup for Australia against Chinese Taipei and went on to win his single match. Alun retired from the professional circuit at the Wimbledon Championships in 2008.	Australian Davis Cup player Alun Jones

Damien Ward

Damien Ward, a local of Canberra, trained at the ACT Academy of Sport whilst competing on the ACT tennis scene where he became both the No. 1 ranked ACT junior and Open age player at 17.

Damien accepted a tennis scholarship at the Brigham Young University in Utah, USA, where he competed on the US Collegiate Circuit against world class players including James Blake (Harvard) and Bob and Mike Bryant (Stanford). Upon graduating in 2000 Damien turned professional competing on the ITF / ATP tour where he achieved world rankings in both singles and doubles.

Damien Ward at the Patrick McEnroe Tennis Training Centre

Damien Ward at the
Patrick McEnroe Tennis Training Centre

Damien retired from the professional tennis circuit in 2003 and undertook an appointment as head of the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Academy in Florida, a well renowned international tennis academy under ESPN commentator Cliff Drysdale.

In 2006, Damien was recruited to manage and coach at the Patrick McEnroe Tennis Training Centre in Miami, a tennis club at the Grove Isle Hotel and Spa under tennis great Patrick McEnroe.

Damien's previous pupils have included the No. 1 ranked 12's and under female tennis player of the USA, Sashia Vickery.

Contact Information

For further details about the junior development programs or for adult coaching please phone:

Alun Jones: 0409 121 312

Damien Ward: 0405 928 413

Also see Damien and Alun's website: Champion Team Tennis

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