Private Tennis Coaching in Rushcutters Bay
One-on-one lessons on five harbourside courts, planned around your game, your goals and your week. For kids and adults, from a first hit to match-ready.
Start with one lesson
- Coaching
- Tennis Australia accredited
- Ages
- Kids & adults
- Levels
- Beginner → advanced
Private Tennis Coaching in Rushcutters Bay
One-on-one lessons on five harbourside courts, planned around your game, your goals and your week. For kids and adults, from a first hit to match-ready.
Private Tennis Lessons for Kids
For juniors who want more one-on-one time than a Hot Shots group class can give. Your child’s coach works on the skills that matter for their current stage, whether they’re moving up quickly, getting ready for the Hot Shots Tournament or aiming for Ace and Super Squads.
- Launch Pad
- Red Ball
- Orange Ball
- Green Ball
- Yellow Ball
- Ace & Super Squads
Private Tennis Lessons for Adults
First-timers Returning players Technique Match tactics Night comp prep
Private Coaching for Every Skill Level
From your first lesson to match preparation, your coach pitches every session at exactly where your game is now.
Beginners
New to tennis, or picking it up again after a long break? You’ll start with the essentials: grip, court positioning, clean contact and a simple serve, at a pace that builds confidence rather than overwhelming you.
Intermediate Players
Already comfortable in a rally? Sessions work on consistency, footwork, shot selection and singles and doubles tactics, so you play with more control.
Advanced & Competitive
Preparing for Night League, or chasing down a stubborn technical or tactical weakness? You get your coach’s full attention for the whole session. For juniors aiming higher, the team also runs Ace and Super Squads.
Benefits of Private Tennis Coaching
Six ways one-on-one coaching moves your game forward faster than a group class.
Faster Progress
With a coach watching every ball, small fixes happen on the spot, so improvement shows up sooner than it does in a group.
Skills-Based Coaching
Lessons zero in on the parts of your game that need the most work, from a shaky second serve to a backhand that breaks down under pressure.
Personalised Goals
Tell your coach what you’re aiming for and they’ll build a plan around it, whether that’s one technical fix, match preparation or long-term development.
Suitable for All Abilities
Private lessons work for every age and level, from a junior’s very first lesson to an experienced competitor’s pre-season tune-up.
Flexible Scheduling
Early morning, daytime and evening lessons mean coaching fits around work, school and family rather than the other way round.
Improved Fitness
More balls hit per session means more repetition and more movement, building technique and on-court fitness together week by week.
Why Choose Rushcutters Bay for Private Lessons
Accredited coaches, five courts beside the water and a cafe on site, all in one of inner Sydney’s best-loved parks.
Accredited, experienced coaches
Lessons are delivered by Tennis Australia accredited coaches, led by Head Coach Mike Etherington, a USPTA certified professional since 1994. The team also holds AATC Advanced and Development coaching certifications.
A harbourside setting
Five courts at the front of Rushcutters Bay Park, opposite Reg Bartley Oval, with the water a few steps away and street parking along Waratah Street.
A cafe beside the courts
Scramble & Bean serves Little Marionette coffee, breakfast and lunch from 7am to 2:30pm every day, so a coffee before or after your lesson is easy.
Backed by Sydney Sports Management Group
A City of Sydney facility operated by SSMG, which has run tennis centres across Sydney for more than 25 years and is directly affiliated with Tennis Australia and Tennis NSW.
A natural next step
Carry your progress into adult groups, Social Tennis, the Adult Clinic or Ladies Clinic, Cardio Tennis or Night League, all at the same centre.
What Players Are Saying
Private Tennis Lesson Pricing
Pay as you go with a single 60-minute lesson, or bring the per-session price down with a 5 or 10-pack.
$130per session
Pay as you go. Ideal for a first lesson or an occasional tune-up.
- One-on-one with your coach for the full hour
- Lesson planned around your goals
- Morning, daytime or evening times
Ask about 30-minute lessons
$615$123 per session
Five lessons to work on a specific goal or build momentum.
Save $35, about 5%
- One-on-one with your coach for the full hour
- Lesson planned around your goals
- Morning, daytime or evening times
Ask about 30-minute lessons
$1,120$112 per session
Ten lessons for players committing to regular coaching.
Save $180, about 14%
- One-on-one with your coach for the full hour
- Morning, daytime or evening times
- Lowest per-session rate
Ask about 30-minute lessons
Savings are compared with booking single 60-minute lessons at $130 each. Lesson packs are bought online through Mindbody. For reference, casual court hire is $31.20/hour on weekdays 7am–5pm and $38.30/hour on weekday evenings and weekends.
Meet Our Private Tennis Coaches
Our coaching team is led by Head Coach Mike Etherington and covers everything from a junior’s first Hot Shots lesson to Ace and Super Squads.
Mike Etherington
Head Coach
A lifelong passion for teaching and playing the game, having coached everyone from first-timers to a future world No. 1.
Playing background
- Former state-ranked junior
- Australian top 15 senior ranking, with a previous world ranking of 269
- Bronze medallist at the 2009 World Masters Games
- Two-time club champion at Manly Lawn Tennis Club (1998 and 2005)
- Multiple State and Australian Corporate Games singles titles
Coaching experience
- 30 years of coaching, including 7 years abroad
- Coached former world No. 1 Andy Roddick at the Rick Macci Tennis Academy
- Coached Sanna Bedford, 2023 Tennis Seniors Player of the Year, who represented Australia at the 2025 World Teams Championships in Turkey
Qualifications
- USPTA certified professional since 1994
- Certificate III in Business
Safety
- Bronze Medallion
- Advanced Resuscitation Certificate
Martina Caliari
Senior Coaching Professional
A former EU semi-professional player who pairs high-level tennis with sport coaching and personal training qualifications.
Playing background
- Former EU semi-professional tennis player
- 22 years in tennis, starting at age 6
Coaching qualifications
- Diploma in Sport Coaching
- Certificate IV in Sport Coaching
- Advanced Tennis Coach certification, Australasian Academy of Tennis Coaches
- Development Tennis Coach certification, Australasian Academy of Tennis Coaches
- Tennis Australia Community Coaching certification
Fitness qualifications
- Certificate III in Personal Training
- Certificate IV in Personal Training
- Gym instructor
Coaching approach
- Passionate about learning and coaching, and brings great energy to every session
Samantha Loveridge
Tennis Coach
Passionate about teaching, helping people improve and using sport to support wellbeing.
Education
- First Class BA (Hons) in Sport Management
Coaching qualifications
- Advanced Tennis Coach certification, Australasian Academy of Tennis Coaches
- Development Tennis Coach certification, Australasian Academy of Tennis Coaches
- 1st4sport Level 3 Certificate in Coaching
- 1st4sport Level 3 Award in Education and Training
- 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Preparation for Coaching Sport
Inclusive coaching
- Special Olympics certification for Inclusive Sport in Schools and Young Athletes
Safety
- First Aid and CPR qualified
Book Your Private Lesson Today
Tell us what you’d like to work on and we’ll match you with the right coach and time, or buy a lesson pack online now. Prefer to talk it through first? Give us a call.
- Call the centre(02) 9357 7332
- Find us7 Waratah Street, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011
- Session timesEarly morning, daytime & evening
Request Your Lesson
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the right coach.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most about private coaching at Waratah Street.
7am Doors open
every day
How much do private tennis lessons cost at Rushcutters Bay?
A single 60-minute private lesson is $130. A 5-pack is $615 ($123 per session) and a 10-pack is $1,120 ($112 per session). 30-minute lessons are also available, so ask us for details.
How long is a private lesson?
Standard private lessons run for 60 minutes. 30-minute lessons are also available on request.
Are private lessons available for kids?
Yes. Private lessons suit juniors at every Hot Shots stage, from Launch Pad and Red Ball through to Yellow Ball and Ace & Super Squads. Your child’s coach focuses on the skills for their current stage.
Are private lessons available for adults?
Yes. Private lessons are open to adults at every level, from complete beginners to experienced players getting ready for Night League.
I've never played tennis before. Can I still book?
Absolutely. Private lessons suit complete beginners as well as experienced players. Your coach starts with the basics, like grip, footwork and making clean contact, and builds from there at your pace.
What's the difference between private lessons and group coaching?
Adult group lessons run at set times each week. Beginner and intermediate classes are 60 minutes with up to six players, and advanced sessions run for 60 or 90 minutes. Private lessons are one-on-one, booked at a time that suits you and planned entirely around your game.
Can I choose my own lesson time?
Yes. Early morning, daytime and evening lessons are available, and the centre opens at 7am every day. Let us know the times that suit you and we’ll match you with a coach.
Who will be my coach?
Private lessons are delivered by the Rushcutters Bay coaching team
Can I bring my own coach to the courts?
No. Under the centre’s coaching policy(opens in a new tab), only Sydney Sports Management Group coaches can coach on the courts at Rushcutters Bay, so all private lessons are run by our own team.
What should I bring to my first lesson?
Wear comfortable sportswear and flat-soled, non-marking tennis shoes; avoid trail or hiking shoes, as heavy tread can damage the court. Bring a water bottle and sunscreen, since all courts are outdoors, and let us know when you book if you don’t have a racquet yet. If heavy rain is forecast, call us to confirm your session.
On Waratah Street opposite Reg Bartley Oval, with easy access from Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Darlinghurst, Paddington and across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.