TENNIS Australia ambassador and former Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald says our nation needs courts like he found in Ballarat.
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Fitzgerald said high-quality surfaces helped players of all levels to serve up their best games - and that in turn helped strengthen tennis across Australia.
Ballarat Regional Tennis Centre courts are, he says, among the best in the state outside Australian Open base Melbourne Park.
Fitzgerald was visiting for personal reasons, rather than business, watching his son Patrick contest qualifying rounds of Ballarat Gold Open AMT on Saturday.
He could hardly help but see what Ballarat tennis would offer, and cast his eyes over promising talent on display from across the nation.
"Ballarat, Bendigo and Traralgon all have great courts and the players need it," Fitzgerald said.
"Provide enough good facilities and players will improve their games.
"These tournaments are not always about money - they're about providing opportunity.
"It gives players a chance to compete and a pathway, if they want it badly enough."
Patrick Fitzgerald made it through the first three qualifying rounds on Saturday and will play for a spot in the main draw on Sunday morning.
The 18-year-old has just completed his first year of software engineering at Monash University and was keen to test his tennis game against some of the leading players from across the state.
Fitzgerald would offer tips post-match, if appropriate, but said he would rather just enjoy watching his son learning the game.
A former world number one in doubles, Fitzgerald collected seven Grand Slam doubles crowns - two French Open, two Wimbledon, two US Open and one Australian Open - and reached a career-high singles world ranking of 25.
He represented Australia in Davis Cup for 10 years and captained the Australian campaign for almost a decade until handing over the reigns to Pat Rafter four years ago.
"It's fun to come to tournaments like Ballarat to watch," Fitzgerald said.
"Tennis is such a tough sport. There's not the body contact like other sports, but it's really character building and creates character.
"You must win and lose with dignity and when it's one-on-one it teaches you so much about yourself."