Joel's Journey

From Lapsed Player to Coach: Joel’s Love Tennis Journey

Joel Doherty grew up playing tennis in Auckland but, like many juniors, stepped away from the sport after finding competition too challenging. “I found it tough at that age,” Joel reflects. “Instead of sticking with it and trying harder, I decided to quit.”

Years later, living in Rolleston during Covid, Joel picked up a racquet again and started hitting casually at his local courts with his partner. While it was fun, he missed connection, challenge, and being part of something bigger. Not long after, Joel started noticing Love Tennis ads appearing on his Facebook and Instagram feeds. At first, he scrolled past them. But the message, and the welcoming vibe, kept catching his attention. Curious, Joel decided to give it a go.

Joel was welcomed into a warm, supportive Love Tennis club environment at Te Kura Hagley Park Tennis Club. Coaches Hugo Nurse-Strang and Christina Yap along with the club volunteers made the experience easy and inclusive, catering for different abilities and removing the pressure he remembered from junior tennis. Encouraged by the atmosphere and the people, Joel quickly rediscovered his enjoyment for the game and began getting involved in club opportunities.

Coming back to tennis as an adult helped Joel realise there was far more to the sport than winning and losing. Social connection, personal improvement, and a wide range of programmes gave him a new perspective and reignited a deep love for tennis.

“The volunteers and coaches were incredibly accommodating,” Joel says. “Everyone was supportive, no matter their level. It made coming back to tennis feel easy.”

Inspired by this journey, Joel made a bold career change, leaving his sales role to pursue coaching. With strong support from coaches and club networks, he gained experience across a variety of programmes and is now a full‑time coach at Albany Tennis Park.

What started with Love Tennis social media ads and a visit to a friendly club didn’t just bring Joel back to the court, it helped him find a new profession, proving the power of welcoming clubs and supportive coaching in changing lives through tennis.