Dave first visited Sweden for Tennis Exchanges in 1984 doing a 10 year exchange friendship program with Höllvikens TK. He liked Sweden so much (and his father comes from Swedish background:-)… that he came over to work full time in 1994 with Höllvikens TK whilst still doing his own work as an International Touring Coach. In 2005 he decided to go out on his own and started EuroElite Jr Tennis Development Centers. Dave keeps his permanent home in Höllviken, Sweden for the past 26 years and also keeps a home in Mexico from November to March doing tours, seminars and relaxing:-)
Dave has now started other EuroElite Academies; EuroElite Germany with Michael Andreasson as Director, in Vietnam working with Becamex Tennis and Mexico working with Jorge Olaya at Performance Tennis Academy in Cocoyoc, EuroElite Denmark with partner Thomas Wahl in charge.
Some highlights of his 45-year coaching career are:
- NCAA Division 1 New Coach of the Year 1986 WAC ( Univ. of Texas – El Paso)
- USTA Zonal Coach Eastern Section
- Junior Davis Cup Coach for USTA – Western Section
- Voted one of the TOP TEN Best Junior Development Coaches in the USA by MIZUNO International and Ivan Lendl (former ATP #1 world-ranked player) in 1995
- Coached 7 National USA Champions
- Coached over 50 Scandinavian Champions during his time in Sweden
- Coached during EuroElite camps and tours most of the top Scandinavian Players who have gone on to become #1 in their countries and many have gone on to get their ATP Points including the younger years: Elias + Michael Ymer, Daniel Berta (fd #1 ITF world and French Open Junior Winner), Mikael Torpegaard, Claes Göransson, Filip Bergevi and many more.
- Only trainer to be give the status as “official national coach” by multiple countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Vietnam, Switzerland, England and Ireland.
- USPTA Pro Level 1-1990
- Regular Consultant for Coach and Player Development to Scandinavias’ Largest Tennis clubs in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
- In the 24 years whilst in Scandinavia, Dave has done over 500 Tennis Europe/ITF tours with over 1000+ players!
- Voted BEST FOREIGN COACH of the DECADE by YUCATAN TENNIS ITF GRADE 1: 2007
- Mentored by former Wimbeldon & US Open Champion and Master Coach Dennis Ralston in the art of tactics, technique and match mentality motivation.
- Sponsored and recommended by Tennis Legend Björn Borg for developing and coaching juniors to their fullest potential and touring organisation concepts.
- Working with Scandinavian Regions and Federations as Int’l Tour Leader and Seminar Speaker
- Nordic Coaches Conference-Copenhagen; Seminar Speaker “Junior Talent Development” June 2017.
- DIRECTLY COACHED/ THREE(3) GRADE 1 ITF CHAMPIONS the past 10 years: Filip Bergevi – 2012-Venezuela, Kevin Chahoud – 2018 and Leo Borg – 2021 Brazil (was with his folks there in Brazil:-)
- EuroElite Jr. Tennis Camps & Tours is the undisputedly Largest Junior Tennis Academy in Scandinavia averaging 140 active touring members per season!
DAVE’S THOUGHTS:
FIRST AND FOREMOST… EDUCATION AND TENNIS GO HAND AND HAND AT EUROELITE!
All of our training concepts are geared to preparing players in the classroom and on the court (as well as off:-) to get a College Education. Competing at the highest university levels in the USA, as a Scholarship Player will THEN the player can go on the ATP Tour when they have that diploma in their hands!! Our NEW COLLEGE PREP PROJECT will fit your player and give them the dream to STAY IN THE GAME!!!
We seek players/parenst who will embrace this concept whilst knowing we have an abundantly positive and motivating/competitive safe environment here at Base Camp EuroElite… we give LIFE LESSONS… not just Tennis Lessons and we FILL PLAYERS WITH SELF-CONFIDENCE, INDEPENDENCE AND ACTUALLY THIS GIVES THEM MORE COMFORT!!!
FINALLY: Our goal is to COMPLIMENT the club’s programing,,, not to COMPETE with the club. I have structured and taught all our EE Coaches in the art of getting the best stokes out of a player by using breathing techniques, balanced movement, rhythm, focusing and finishing techniques… the grip changes we do not do! This is for the home pro to take care of and we respect totally their territory!
This is the reason that all participants must ask for approval from their trainers to visit or tour with us… and also the reason so many clubs in Sweden, Norway,, Finland and Denmark TRUST EUROELITE and send their TOP players and those who INSPIRE to be to us. It is manditory that HOME CLUB AND ACTIVITIES COME FIRST!”
Please feel free to drop me an e-mail at dave_phattennis@hotmail.com should you have any questions about tours, weekends or other camps in Sweden/Denmark/Norway/Germany/Czech Republic!.
