THEY say lightning never strikes in the same place twice.
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Former ATP professional Peter Dellavedova, now 53, was struggling with that concept yesterday as he watched his son, Matthew, play on Wodonga’s grasscourts.
A bright, sunny day in Wodonga was as good a time as any for him to reminisce on an injury-marred professional career.
Dellavedova’s career started brightly. He based himself in Europe but, playing at Wimbledon in 1979 and 1980, injury struck him down.
During his recovery period, he found himself on the Border.
“An old colleague had previously brought me to the grasscourt championships in Wodonga,” Dellavedova said.
“I had a broken right arm and a broken left wrist and, when they heard I’d be out of the pro circuit for some time, I was asked by Geoff Burton if I had any interest in coaching,” he said.
Geoff Burton was the Wodonga Tennis Club’s president.
The offer was too good for Dellavedova to refuse.
He spent three summers on the Border from 1980 as the club’s head coach, before his fellow players coaxed him back to the ATP.
His comeback was a short-lived return — it was three months into his comeback when Dellavedova rolled his ankle and tore ligaments — he was told he would never play again.
His brief comeback wasn’t without its highlights, including a win in Europe over the world No. 4, Frenchman Guy Forget.
Such a sudden end to his promising return left, Dellavedova unsure about what he should do next.
Eventually, in 1995, he settled in Gippsland as coach of the Wonga Tennis Club.
Now, another 20 years on, things seem to have come full circle, with 14-year old son Matthew performing well to advance to the third-round of qualifying of the men’s open AMT tournament.
“It’s like going back in time,” the Dellavedova said.
“It just goes to show the way the cycle can sometimes come around.”
Matthew is one of the top-three 14-year olds in the country, and it’s plain to see his dad couldn’t be more proud.
“He absolutely loves it,” Peter said.
“He could rightly take it easy, be highly seeded for his age group but, instead, he’s out here qualifying for the main draw.
“It’s great that he recognises there’s more to gain from playing against senior opponents.
“Certainly it’s tougher — he’s got a long road ahead of him — but I think he’s got the right attitude to push through and get the best out of himself.”
For Dellavedova, seeing the grass at Wodonga again was a pleasure.
“This is an outstanding place to play tennis — best grass in the country,” he said.