Coach Profile | Debbie Hale

DEBBIE HALE

Coaching Qualification:  LTA Senior Performance Coach

How old were you when you first started playing tennis?

I trained at Totally Tennis when I was 14-18 years old before going to Bath University to study and play full-time. 

What made you come to work at Totally Tennis?

I have set up ADAPT Tennis here at Totally Tennis.

What do you like most about coaching tennis?

I have worked in performance for 20 years, in various roles from the Performance Programme in La Manga Spain to LTA Talent performance co-ordinator, lead performance coach at West Hants and JTC, Aldershot. 

How often do you coach?

I currently look after the U11’s in my Dorset County Lead role and captain the U18 Hampshire girls.  In recent years I have coached 12+ players to national level and some to European level.  I have gained lots of knowledge and experience in the performance pathway and I’m very keen to increase and support players within Hampshire to gain success. 

Do you play any other sport?

Aside from tennis, I love to play Padel, Racketball and go Kayaking.

What is your greatest achievement in tennis so far?

I continue to play and represent Hampshire County, England and Great Britain in the open age group, 35’s and 40’s teams. 

February in Pictures | 2023

The Basingstoke U3A Group, the local cooperative of older people, enjoyed a Pickleball taster session at the indoor centre (pictured above & below)

Adult & junior Tecnifibre rackets were back in stock

Coach Charlotte Green joined the team

Coach and performance player Kirsty Da Silva won the U18 Girls Singles title at the Wilton Open tournament

Coach and performance player Isla Hignett played at Wimbledon with AELTC head coach Dan Bloxham

Adult pay-and-play Mixed Mornings and 50+ sessions were as popular as ever

Kirsty Represents Hampshire & IOW in the U18 County Cup

Totally Tennis coach and performance player Kirsty Da Silva was part of the girls team that represented Hampshire & IOW at last weekend’s Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) U18 County Cup.

Kirsty (4th right) pictured with the Hampshire & IOW team

Da Silva and her nine Hampshire & IOW teammates played in group 3a against teams from Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk at Hills Road Tennis Centre in Cambridge. Although the weekend did not go to plan for the team there was some great matches played. Da Silva and her partner Mia Zhou won two of their doubles matches beating Erin Berry & Louwna Hendriks from Suffolk 6-4, 6-4 and Nottinghamshire’s Lisa Bolton and Naomi Szczur 6-1, 6-4. The final day saw the team battling against the Nottinghamshire girls for overall third place but lost out in a close 4-5 scoreline.

Kirsty said, “It was an amazing experience playing in the County Cup, and I am very thankful for the opportunity. It was great to see the team supporting each other throughout the event and even though we didn’t get the results we hoped for everyone played really well.”

Overall Suffolk were the group winners with 6 points with Cambridgeshire in second place, Nottinghamshire were third and Hampshire & IOW finished in fourth.

Da Silva Shins at the County Championships | 2022

Totally Tennis assistant coach and performance player Kirsty Da Silva had a great week at this year’s Hampshire & IOW County Championships 2022 held this week at Winchester Racquets and Fitness.

In the 18 & under Girls Doubles, top seeds Da Silva and her partner Poppy Marston were crowned champions after playing some great matches. After a bye in the quarters, they defeated Lily Bebbington and Harriet Burley in the semis 4-2, 4-3 and then beat Victoria Ernsberger and Katie Hart convincingly in the final 4-1, 4-2 to win the title.

18 & under Doubles champions Kirsty (left) and partner Poppy

In the Women’s Doubles, Da Silva and Marston were runners-up after losing in the final to Scarlett Doman & Ivana Maynard 6-4, 6-0. On their way to the final, the pair had a bye in the quarters and then defeated Ernsberger and Mia Zhoub in a three-set semi-final battle 2-6, 6-4, 11-9.

Women’s Doubles runners-up Kirsty (right) and Poppy

In the Women’s Singles, Da Silva beat Hart in round one 7-5, 6-3 before losing to top seed Ivana Maynard in the quarter finals 6-2, 6-2. She also competed in the 18 & under Girls Singles where after a bye in round one she beat Stefania Flavia Zamfir in the quarters 6-1, 6-2 but lost out again to Maynard in the semis 6-2, 6-2.

Congratulations Kirsty!

Coach Isla represents Hampshire in 18U Girls County Cup Tournament

Assistant coach and performance player Isla Hignett represented Hampshire & IOW in last weekends 18 & under Girls County Cup held at the David Lloyd Club in Southampton.

Hignett, along with team members Jasmin Bromilow, Hannah Smith, Scarlett Doman, Poppy Marston, Ivana Maynard, Nina Williams and Mia Zhou, competed in Group 2a against teams from Lancashire, Avon and Surrey.

The Surrey team were on top form all weekend and won all their matches and promotion to the top division. Unfortunately it was not Hampshire’s weekend with defeats in all three fixtures.

On Friday, which was the first day of competition, the Hampshire team faced Avon and Hignett won both her singles and doubles matches but the team lost 6-3 overall. In the singles, Hignett beat Dhruthi Harish 6-2, 6-3 and in the doubles with partner Smith they won 7-5, 6-1, 1-0 against Jessica Gunter & Lolita Winter-Smith.

Saturday saw the team faced a 9-0 defeat against Surrey. Hignett battled hard in her singles fixture against Serena Manca in a match that lasted 2 hours and 17 minutes but sadly she lost 7-5, 6-4. On the final day of play, the team played Lancashire and were beaten 7-2. Hignett lost her singles match 6-2, 6-4 against Lily Harper.

The 18U County Cup is a three-day annual team event that takes place at various venues around the country for junior players under the age of 18. Teams are made up of six to ten players selected by their respectative county to represent them. This year’s 18U County Cup took place from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th March 2022 and forty-four teams from throughout the country took part. In the boys competition the Hampshire team, who played at Cardiff Met University, finished third after playing teams from Berkshire (winners), South Wales and Cumbria.

February in Pictures | 2022

The Royal Engineers vs. The Royal Electric & Mechanical Engineers played their Army Tennis Association fixture at the indoor centre (featuring former Totally Tennis player Robert Woods)

Braving the chilly weather for an after 50+ session coffee & chat

Dodgers & Giants squads on court with coaches Kevin & Kie

Last match of the B & DTL Winter season for our ladies team (L to R Claire, Sandra, Kirsty & Julia) away against Andover

Performance player Kirsty Da Silva joined the coaching team

Our Mixed A team (L to R Kevin, Sandra, Michael & Clare) drew at home against Odiham

Adult morning sessions in full swing indoors

Coach Ed Stolliday joined the coaching team

Ladies Social Hour started this month – matchplay and coffee every Thursday from 12:30pm – 1:30pm

When coach Isla is not coaching she’s on court practicing

February Half Term Tennis Camps

A,B & C Squads playing indoors and outside in the Winter sun

Congratulations to Kirsty who won the TennisUk Ladies FAST4 tournament at Sutton Tennis Academy

Lovely to host the Basingstoke 5K Your Way – Move Against Cancer group at their regular monthly parkrun/meet-up

Ladies Tournament Win for Kirsty in Sutton

Congratulations to performance player and assistant coach Kirsty Da Silva who won the TennisUK Ladies FAST4 indoor event at Sutton Tennis Academy yesterday.

Da Silva won her first hour-long match against Arianna Hutchings in the tie break 4-1, 4-3, (8-6)
and then in the semi final she secured the match after second seed Talitha Mitchell retired at 1-2. In the final she defeated top seed Sophie Sueppel, who is rated 4.1, 4-3 (7-3), 4-3 (7-4) to win the event.

Coach Profile | Harry Feast

HARRY FEAST

Coaching Qualification:  LTA Level 2

How old were you when you first started playing tennis?

4 years old

How were you introduced to the sport?

I went to a holiday camp

What made you come to work at Totally Tennis?

It was a good price and good facilities

Who is your favourite professional tennis player?

Juan Martin Del Potro

What do you like most about coaching tennis?

Watching players improve thanks to my advice

How often do you coach?

6 days a week

Do you play any other sport?

I enjoy all sports

What is your greatest achievement in tennis so far?

Winning tournaments

Coach Profile | Jasmin Bromilow

JASMIN BROMILOW

Coaching Qualification:  LTA Level 1

How old were you when you first started playing tennis?

I began playing and competing since I was 7

How were you introduced to the sport?

By my brother 

What made you come to work at Totally Tennis?

I’ve played at Totally Tennis for a number of years and always enjoyed my time here, I’ve often helped out in the past and enjoyed doing so.

Who is your favourite professional tennis player?

My favourite players are Alex Zverev and Simona Halep 

What do you like most about coaching tennis?

What I enjoy most about coaching is watching players improve their performance and help them enjoy tennis

How often do you coach?

I coach 4 sessions a week

Do you play any other sport?

No as I’ve been mainly focusing on tennis

What is your greatest achievement in tennis so far?

My greatest achievements in tennis so far playing in the Hampshire and IOW county team in the County Cup and being able to play at Nationals with them on a few occasions. 

Hignett Competes in Loughborough

Totally Tennis performance player and coach Liam Hignett competed in the LTA British Tour Loughborough 3 held at Loughborough University earlier this week.

Ranked fourth seed in the Grade 2 Men’s Singles event, Hignett had a bye in round one before beating  Rupert George in the second round 6-3, 6-0. In the quarter finals he defeated seventh seed Joshua Rose 7-5, 7-5 but then lost in the semis against second seed Michael Shaw in three sets 6-3, 5-7, 10-8.

Hignett said, “It was great to get some wins back under my belt before the end of the year and they were good wins too!” he added, “Love being back competing during these times and hopefully there will be more matches soon!“