2026 Event Information – Virtual Grand Slam Coaches Conference

Event Information

A fantastic professional development opportunity for coaches to learn from world-class speakers and industry experts in a range of topics.

Tennis Next

Step into the future of coaching with the 2026 Virtual Grand Slam Coaches’ Conference!

This year’s theme, “Tennis Next” explores the innovations, mindsets and strategies driving the next generation of tennis. Learn how forward-thinking coaching can elevate performance, inspire creativity and develop adaptable athletes ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving game.

This premier event brings together 40 world-class speakers covering 6 key categories:

This is your moment. This is Tennis Next.

Running throughout the Australian Open, the 2026 Virtual Grand Slam Coaches’ Conference is your all-access pass to the minds shaping the future of tennis. From cutting-edge research to game-changing strategies, this is where coaching evolves—and where you evolve with it.

Don’t sit on the sidelines. Step into what’s next.

Event Inclusions

This years event will include:

Speakers to be announced...

Speakers

Adele Diamond

Canada Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at University of British Colombia

Read Bio

Adele Diamond, PhD, FRSC, FAPA, FAPS, FSEP, ScD (honorary), DPhil (honorary), LHD (honorary) is the Canada Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, was named one of the “2000 Outstanding Women of the 20th Century,” was listed as one of the 15 most influential neuroscientists alive today, and is the recipient of numerous awards including an Award for Lifetime Contributions to Developmental Psychology in the Service of Science and Society plus four honorary degrees.

Her early systematic body of work opened up an entirely new scientific field, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, marking a milestone in the integration of developmental psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience. Adele’s work has fundamentally changed how people think about cognitive development by demonstrating the close links between motor development, cognitive development, and social-emotional development.

Adele is a world leader on “executive functions,” which enable us to mentally manipulate information, flexibly switch perspectives or mindsets, think before we act, maintain focused attention, creatively problem solve, and succeed despite obstacles. She has emphasized that addressing social and emotional needs may be central to whether executive functions improve and whether those improvements last. Her work has shown that executive functions can be improved at any age, even in the very young. She has championed the roles of sports, music, dance, storytelling, and play in improving executive functions and academic and mental health outcomes.

Allistair McCaw

Author & Keynote Speaker

Read Bio

Allistair McCaw is a best-selling author and keynote speaker. For over 30 years he has worked with some of the most successful athletes, coaches and teams around the world. A former performance coach, Allistair travelled extensively on both the ATP & WTA tours and has worked with numerous Grand Slam Champions and world top 10 ranked players. Allistair resides in South Florida, USA.

Ashley Ross

Founder & Head Coach at Coach Learning Solutions

Read Bio

Ashley Ross has been professionally involved in coaching for 40 years, working in and with many countries and across sports. He has coached athletes from grass roots to World Championship winning teams, (Aust Women’s Team ICC World Cup, 1997 India, NZ Black Caps ICC Knock Out Kenya 2000) across genders and Sports.

Professionally qualified with a B.Ed, he has completed and been accredited as an Advanced Coach Developer by the world renowned Nippon Sports Science University / International Council for Coaching Excellence Nippon Coach Developer Academy (NCDA). Presenting for the internationally renowned NCDA, Ashley is one of very few people qualified at this level from around the world and works to develop coaches across many sports and countries.

Ashley is sort after as an international presenter and consultant having been a member of HP Sport NZ’s “World Class Coaching Working Group”, presented to NZ Elite Rugby Coaches for NZ Rugby on “World Class Coaching” and consulted to the World Champion NZ Lawn Bowls teams of 2008.

In his role as Head of Education with the International Cricket Council Academy in Dubai Ashley developed a full suite of Coach Education programs (level 1, 2 & 3, High Performance Coach Development and the Intern Coach Experience) from the ground up each featuring blended learning strategies that attracted candidates from over 50 countries across the globe.

In his recent role as South Australian Sports Institute Coach Development Lead Ashley delivered a bespoke coach development program to many of Australia’s Olympic facing coaches and those working in pathway programs.

As founder of Coach Learning Solutions, Ashley is currently providing Coach Developer services to individual coaches and also leading Coach Developer system builds and workforce training to State, National and International sporting organisations.

Jose Silva

Professional Tennis Coach

Read Bio

Martin Echegaray

Director of Project Elis

Read Bio

Martín Echegaray is a renowned padel professional with a career spanning player, coach, and educator roles. A former top-10 player in Argentina, he later coached elite athletes on the Pro Tour, including the legendary Reca-Nerone duo and stars like JM Díaz and Paco Navarro. He served as national coach for Argentina and Spain, and directed High Performance, Juniors, and Development programs at the Spanish Padel Federation (2006–2017). Author of Simply Padel and other publications, Martín is a Sports Management graduate, Moodle Certified Educator, and consultant for federations and clubs, dedicated to advancing padel education and professional standards worldwide.

Simon Wheatley

Director of SWNineteen

Read Bio

Dan Kiernan

Founder of SotoTennis Academy

Read Bio

WTA & ATP Grand Slam-winning coach, currently working with WTA Top 10 doubles team Gabriela Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe, and ATP team Mike Venus & Nikola Mektic.
Has been involved in 10 major semi finals in the last 3 years and 4 major finals (inc WTA/ATP Finals)
Founder & Director of SotoTennis Academy in Sotogrande, Spain.
Host of Control the Controllables, a three-time award-winning tennis podcast.
Former British No.1 doubles player and captain of Louisiana State University.
Father of three and lifelong Newcastle United fan!

Mark Kovacs

CEO of Kovas Institute

Read Bio

Emma Wells

Owner of Emma Wells Tennis

Read Bio

Emma Wells is the UK’s largest female tennis parks operator and the first international female Director of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). From grassroot tennis in Sierra Leone to coaching a royal family in the world’s most exclusive real estate, her career spans five continents and every end of the participation tennis spectrum.

A Global Cardio Tennis Trainer and LTA Youth Schools Coach Developer, Emma champions inclusive, community-driven programmes that transform public parks into thriving hubs of sport and connection. 

Recognised with three LTA Awards, she is an international speaker and passionate advocate for gender equality in sport.

Kai-Uwe Gerber

Founder of Coach the Coaches

Read Bio

Kai Gerber is a leading tennis coach and sport management expert based in Switzerland. He owns a tennis academy and a sports management agency, and co-founded Raeda Sports GmbH. As the founder and rights holder of the Coach-the-Coaches International Workshop Days in Basel, held alongside the ATP 500 Swiss Indoors, Kai champions global networking among youth tennis coaches. Holding the highest coaching certifications in Germany and Switzerland, he consults on coach education and serves as an international speaker on kids’ tennis development across Europe. Passionate about shaping future talent, Kai is also a member of the Swiss Tennis

José Canós

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Read Bio

Jose Canós Portalés holds a Ph.D. in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences from the University of Barcelona (UB), with a doctoral thesis focused on high-level tennis during developmental stages. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences from the University of Valencia, a Diploma in Teaching with a specialization in Physical Education from Universitat Jaume I in Castellón, and completed two Master’s degrees in High-Performance Sports: one at the Olympic Center for Advanced Studies (COES) in Madrid and another at INEFC in Barcelona.

He has an outstanding career as a strength and conditioning coach for world-class professional tennis players. He has worked with top athletes such as Roberto Bautista Agut (ATP Top 15), Johanna Konta (WTA Top 10), Çağla Büyükakçay (WTA Top 60), and Sara Sorribes (WTA Top 32), all of whom have competed in the Olympic Games. He has also held leadership and coordination roles in clubs and academies such as Club de Tenis Castellón, Club de Tenis Tarragona, and Club Nàstic de Tarragona, overseeing physical preparation for both tennis and padel.

As a researcher, he has published articles in high-impact scientific journals, primarily focused on performance in racket sports, especially tennis. His scientific work includes studies on flywheel training, physical performance in young tennis players, and the influence of maturational development on sports performance.

Steve Whelan

Founder of My Tennis Coaching

Read Bio

Steve Whelan is an experienced coach educator with over two decades in tennis coaching and coach development. A leading voice in applying ecological dynamics to tennis, Steve helps coaches move beyond traditional drills by designing practice that actually transfers to match play.

He works globally with federations, clubs, and independent coaches to bring science-backed clarity to skill acquisition, with a focus on perception-action, constraints, and representative practice. His work challenges outdated models and supports coaches to design practices around intention, attention, and affordances, so players become adaptable, decision-driven performers.

Steve presents regularly at international conferences and runs My Tennis Coaching, a growing platform for coaches seeking practical, modern solutions grounded in research and real-world coaching.

Justin Sherring

Tennis Director at Weybridge Tennis Academy

Read Bio

Justin Sherring is a highly respected British tennis coach with over 40 years of experience developing players from grassroots to elite levels. He founded Weybridge Tennis Academyin 2005 and currently serves as Surrey Tennis Performance Manager. Justin has coached some of Britain’s biggest stars, including Jack Draper from ages 6–15, six-time Grand Slam champion Joe Salisbury from age 5 to the present, and former world No. 4 Johanna Konta. His expertise spans club, county, and national programs, and he continues to travel on the ATP Tour with Salisbury. Justin’s passion and proven track record make him a cornerstone of UK tennis

Sander Bijnens

Founder of Vamos Tennis & Padel Academy

Read Bio

Sander Bijnens is a seasoned tennis and physical performance coach with experience in national and international training programs. He founded Vamos Tennis & Padelacademy and serves as an instructor for Tennis Vlaanderen, sharing expertise on modern training methods and physical development. As a speaker at Belgium’s Game Changer Congress, he promotes innovative approaches to player development. Sander has collaborated on fitness initiatives between Tennis China and Europe and delivered lectures for organizations including KNLTB and HVS Academy. Known for his practical, science-based approach, he inspires players and coaches to build sustainable training strategies from youth to elite level

Paul Dorochenko

Osteopath & Physical Therapist at Valencia Tennis Academy

Read Bio

Paul Dorochenko is a French osteopath, sports physiotherapist, and pioneer physical trainer on the ATP circuit since the 1980s. With a multidisciplinary approach and deep expertise in elite sport, he has become a leading specialist in injury prevention and recovery for high-level athletes. Over three decades, Paul has worked with 14 Top 10 players, including Roger Federer, Sergi Bruguera, Carlos Moya, Dinara Safina, and rising stars like Félix Auger Aliassime and Sara Errani. Since 2015, he has focused on validating Allyane, a neuromotor reprogramming method using sound and visualization, while training coaches worldwide in laterality and motor preferences

David Sanz

Vice Chancellor for Reasearch & Teaching at UTAMED

Read Bio

David Sanz Rivas, PhD in Sport Sciences, is Vice-Chancellor for Research and Teaching at the Universidad Tecnológica Atlántico Mediterráneo (UTAMED). Withmore than 20 years of academic experience, he served as Director of the Research and Coach Education Department of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) (2003–2020), where he oversaw the training of over 8,000 tennis coaches. He co-directed thenational long-term player development program TenisxEtapas and the Tennis in Schoolsinitiative, and led the Master’s Degree in Innovation, Performance and Development in Tennis, now with more than 10 editions. He has also contributed to numerous researchand talent identification projects, including the Next Gen program of the Madrid TennisFederation.

Dr. Sanz Rivas is the author of multiple scientific articles, books, and book chapters, and has been a speaker at national and international conferences. In 2019, he receivedSpain’s National Sports Award in Arts and Applied Sciences of Sport from the Ministryof Culture and Sport.

Professionally, he has advised tennis players and coaches from grassroots to highperformance and served as Technical Director of the Spanish wheelchair tennis team formore than 20 years, captaining the squad at six Paralympic Games (1996–2016). He has also collaborated as an expert with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), Spain’sHigh Council for Sport (CSD), and the Spanish Paralympic Committee. He holdspostgraduate qualifications in High-Performance Sport, Sport Psychology and Coaching, as well as Sports Management and the highest national tennis coaching certification in Spain (Level 3, ITF)

Olga Kalodzitsa

Founder of Tennis Perfect Coaching Melbourne

Read Bio

Winning the National Championship in her home country of Belarus
Top 10 ranking in European Under 16’s
ITF ranking of 240
Held WTA ranking before going to university in the United States, and won two NCAA National Championships with her team.
Olga’s former students include WTA, ITF, and US college players, as well as players of all levels in New York City, The Hamptons, Miami, Europe, and Melbourne. As a USPTA Certified Tennis Professional, she ran her own program for a number of years as Head Coach for one of New York City’s premier clubs. 
After moving to Australia in 2020,  Olga founded Tennis Perfect Coaching in Melbourne

Airton Santos

Director of Airton Santos Tennis

Read Bio

Postgraduate in Sports Training
Brazilian coordinator of the Junior Tennis Initiative Program of the International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Member of the national teacher training team of the CBT
Pedagogical coordinator of the “Tô no Jogo” Project, which teaches tennis to neurodivergent people in 12 centers across Brazil
ITF Level 3 coach.
Company Director of Airton Santos Tênis

Suzana Silva

Director of Suzana Silva Tennis

Read Bio

Suzana Silva is a former top brazilian junior player and has a degree in Physical Education.  
Her expertise as a tennis player and tennis teacher, focusing primarily on children, culminated in the publication of the book "Tennis for Children" (2003) and a series of articles published in Brazilian tennis magazines on the subject. 
She is the Pedagogical Coordinator of the CBT's "Play Tennis in Schools" Program 
Company Director of Suzana Silva Tênis.

Craig Veal

Tennis Coach at Craig Veal Tennis

Read Bio

Craig Veal is an experienced high-performance tennis coach who has been coaching since 2008. Over the past 16 years, he has worked across every level of the game — from three-year-old beginners to Grand Slam Champions.

Since 2018, Craig has focused on professional tennis, coaching both singles and doubles players on the WTA Tour. His coaching career includes four Grand Slam Mixed Doubles titles, two WTA 1000 Doubles Championships, and multiple WTA Finals appearances.

In addition to his tour coaching, Craig is a Consultant Coach for the LTA Performance Women’s Team, a WTA Coach Mentor, and a private mentor to coaches around the world.

Craig is passionate about developing people as well as players — his philosophy is based on connection, simplicity and enjoying the development process.

Caroline Martin

Associate Professor of the M2S Laboratory of the University of Rennes

Read Bio

Dr. Caroline Martin is associate professor at the M2S Laboratory of the University of Rennes 2 in France. She has a PhD in Sports Sciences. She is an expert in tennis biomechanics. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and books/book chapters in the field. Since 2013, she worked with more than 200 French and international high-level, wheelchair and rising players to improve serve performance and prevent injuries

Chris Steel

POSITION

Read Bio

Rafa Nartínez-Gallego

POSITION

Read Bio

Iciar Montes

Head of Beyond FIP Tour 2026

Read Bio

Icíar Montes is a Spanish padel icon, 12 years World Nº1 and 9-time World Champion. She served as National Captain and Coach of the Spanish Women’s Team and now leads the International Padel Federation’s Seniors World Tour. Renowned for her strategic vision and leadership, Montes continues to inspire players worldwide, promoting excellence and expanding the sport’s global reach through innovative programs and international events.

Nick Brown

Tennis Professional, Olympic and Davis Cup Coach

Read Bio

Nick Brown is a former British Davis Cup tennis professional and renowned coach with over three decades of experience. As Great Britain’s No. 2 and ATP world-ranked No. 120, he competed in the World Group Davis Cup, reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, and claimed the Indonesian Open title. Since 1992, Nick has coached top ATP and WTA players, including world No. 1s Iga Świątek, Cara Black, and Łukasz Kubot. His leadership roles include Fed Cup captain for Great Britain, Davis Cup and Olympic coach for Poland, and Cambridge University head coach. Nick also contributes as a commentator and corporate consultant.

Samuel Lopez

Coach for Carlos Alcaraz Team

Read Bio

In 1990, López helped Antonio Martínez Cascales found the Equelite Academy (later renamed the Ferrero Academy) in Villena, Alicante. He continued to work with Cascales as part of the coaching team of Juan Carlos Ferrero.
López later coached players including Guillermo García Lopez, Santiago Ventura, and Mariusz Fyrstenberg.
López began coaching Pablo Carreño Busta in November 2015, helping him capture seven ATP Tour singles titles and reach a career-high ranking of World No. 10.
López parted ways with Carreño in December 2024, when it was announced he would be joining Carlos Alcaraz's coaching team to work alongside head coach Ferrero. He had previously stood in to coach Alcaraz at the 2024 Australian Open, while Ferrero recovered from knee surgery.

Tamas Bogyo

Head Coach at Nexon Dunakeszi Teniszklub

Read Bio

Tamás Bogyó is an international tennis coach with a career spanning over two decades. A former ATP-ranked player (409) and Hungarian Davis Cup competitor, Tamás has coached elite teams and top juniors worldwide, including Dennis Shapovalov and Hungarian ITF squads. Founder of Global Tennis Enterprise and ITTT, he specializes in player development and coach education, speaking at global conferences for GPTCA, PTR, and BTCA. Partnered with Craig O’Shannessy’s Brain Game Tennis, Tamás is an innovator behind training tools like Backswing Solution and Topspin Pro. His mission: empowering players and coaches to achieve peak performance through cutting-edge strategies.

Daniel Caverzaschi

Professional Wheelchair Tennis Player

Read Bio

Nikhil Jayashankar

Head of Business Development at SwingVision

Read Bio

Nikhil Jayashankar is the Head of Business Development at SwingVision, an AI-powered tennis analytics platform featured in Apple keynotes and backed by pros like Andy Roddick. Based in New York City, Nikhil has led SwingVision’s growth since 2017, forging partnerships with colleges, clubs, and federations worldwide. A former NCAA Division I tennis player and team captain at UC Berkeley, he earned a B.A. in Economics before starting his career as a Strategy Consultant. Passionate about advancing tennis technology, Nikhil champions SwingVision’s mission to deliver affordable, portable solutions that empower coaches and players with pro-level insights using just an iPhone.

Matt Healy

Head of Performance Programme at Surbiton

Read Bio

Matt has worked in tennis for 25 years in the UK. In the 25 years Matt has worked in three leading clubs within the LTA performance landscape. The Parklangley Club, Chiswick Riverside and for the last 10 years heading the performance programme at Surbiton.

Specialising at teaching the fundamentals at 8&U and creating players to love the game for life. Over the years his positive energy and creative approach to coaching has made a massive impact on players to become the best they can. Numerous of players have started their tennis journey in the environment that Matt has created. Many have gone on to becoming county, regional, national champions as well as take their tennis further to the US college system and even a US open female champion.

Nick Jacques

POSITION

Read Bio

Mike James

POSITION

Read Bio

Please note that these speakers may be subject to change.