OPRC Coach Spotlight: Billy Wilkinson

By Mike Holder:

Billy Wilkinson began his career in professional tennis traveling the world as a touring player. Later, after becoming a coach, he quickly made an impact on the WTA Tour, finding success prior to the age of 30. Working with the International Tennis Association, he became a National Women’s coach for both the LTA (Great Britain) and Tennis Australia. He was a coach/hitting partner with notable players such as Peng Shuai, Jenny Hopkins, Venus Williams, and Serena Williams early in his coaching career.
Wilkinson would go on to coach many top players such as US Open semi-finalist Yanina Wickmayer, top-10 Johanna Konta, top-25 Jarmila Gajdosova, and top-50 Heather Watson, to name a few. He returned to Olde Providence Racquet Club where he received his very first tennis lesson as a kid.
Billy discussed playing and coaching tennis, the impact that the sport can have on an individual, and more:

What made you decide to become a coach? Was there a particular moment where you knew you wanted to coach?

In 2002 I was asked by the academy I was based at, who had some pro-based WTA players, to go to Europe as a hitting partner to tournaments from Roland Garros through Wimbledon.
I instantly found how much I loved coaching a player, watching their match; and seeing the things they needed to improve. From there, I decided to stop my tennis and become a coach.

What is the most rewarding part of coaching?

The most rewarding part of being a coach has been seeing the joy a player has when they have achieved a goal they set for themselves. All the hard work and sacrifice they put in for really the unknown and to see them having success is no better feeling.
If I could add a 2nd, through coaching, I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel, see the world, and experience different cultures.

How do you define your coaching style or philosophy?

I’m a vision-based type of coach. Taking the player and seeing the “end result”, may that be technically or tactically, and then begin the process.
Passion is what gets a player or student to be willing to do the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to become the best player they can be.

Are there any particular lessons you learned from a coach as a player that you apply in your coaching today?

I’ve been fortunate to have some very good coaches growing up as a player and mentors as a coach. One thing that stands out and that I learned is never ask a player to do something that I’m not prepared to do myself.

What inspired you to take up the game of tennis originally?

I got into tennis through my school. The last week before summer break began, we were able to choose 3 activities. A few of my friends chose tennis so I decided to as well and had so much fun!
At that time, I was on a select soccer team and wanted to play for the US in the World Cup. Tennis slowly started to become more and more serious for me to which I wanted to be number 1 in the world. My parents felt I needed to chose which sport to pursue and tennis it was!

What are your most memorable moments playing the sport?

Besides any achievements in tennis I may have had as a junior, my most memorable moments will always be just going to tournaments with my mom and dad when he was able to come outside of work.

What are some life lessons that can come from playing tennis?

So many life lessons you learn from playing any sport. But, with tennis being an individual sport, except when you’re playing doubles, of course, I learned accountability and developed honesty with myself.
You win or lose on your own. I learned to be humble in winning, accepting in defeat, and be truthful on what things I needed to improve. I feel I have carried that with me throughout my life both professionally and personally.

Is there something you would change in tennis that you think would improve the sport?

I love tennis the way it is in terms of scoring and dimension of the court. At one stage 20 years ago when racket technology and string advanced, you had some big servers then so I thought an idea was to make the service line 6” closer toward the net so they add more spin so there were more rallies. But, what they did was slow down the courts and the next generation
improved their returns anyways.
I do believe the ATP and WTA need to find a way that if you are at minimum 300 to 500 in the world you are making money. The expense of tennis and how long it takes to get to top 100 where you are beginning to be in the positive and the younger generation of players and parents are less and less considering professional tennis as a possibility to make a career of.
So tennis needs to take something from golf. Is it a tour card needed to be on the WTA/ATP tour? ITF challengers and UTR tournaments can work together to be a “qualifying” to be able to get your card.
Something needs to change to where it trickles down a bit more.