Patrick Henson has tennis running in his blood. The 46-year-old Point Cook resident followed in his father’s footsteps to become a tennis coach and now his son is also embracing a life on court. The American national tells Charlene Macaulay how his family has embraced life in Australia after moving two years ago.
Tell me about your life in America.
I’m from Providence in Rhode Island. I grew up the son of a tennis coach, so it’s a family enterprise. My dad is still coaching into his 70s and I’ve been doing it close to 25 years.
Do you remember the first time you picked up a tennis racquet?
I was tossed out of my first junior tennis clinic at the age of four. I went up to my dad’s basket of tennis balls and toppled it over, so all the balls scattered everywhere and I was sent off.
How far did you get with your tennis career?
I played university tennis and was fortunate enough to play for a national championship on two occasions – not at the highest level, I played division three. I was an average collegiate player, not a standout. But it was a great experience and that’s what led me into college coaching.
Tell me about your tennis-coaching business, Provisions.
As the son of a coach, I had really good instruction and was taught the right way. I feel I can pass that on to the next generation. I’m also a specialist coach at Royal Park Tennis Club.
Tennis is a lifelong sport; you don’t see a lot of seniors playing footy. It would be great to produce some home-grown champions, and that’s what I hope to do in the western suburbs. A second calling I have is to help young standout athletes gain access to the scholarships available in the US, and the firm I represent is College Prospects of America.
What was behind the decision to come to Australia?
I’d spent time in Melbourne over the course of our first 10 years of marriage and really enjoyed the people and the city. We were both between jobs and [wife] Yenny came first, hunting for jobs. She got work as a teacher in Point Cook, and I applied for a permanent visa. We’re happy here, and we’re expanding. We have a little Aussie baby on the way, plus our son, Donovan, who has recently been selected to represent the Western Region Tennis Association in under-12 pennant.
