THE most successful player development program in the country is being run in Jason Stoltenberg's backyard because Tennis Australia has turned its back on him.
TA's player development manager Craig Tiley has rejected Stoltenberg's offer to work with the governing body - forcing parents to pay up to $150,000 a year to fund their children's careers while they attempt to make the transition from juniors to the ATP and WTA Tours.
TA does not provide financial assistance to any junior working outside the TA program, because Tiley wants to tell players where to be coached, and by whom. His critics say it's his way or the highway, and most have chosen their own road.
"We're thankful that someone with the playing and coaching credentials of Jason wants to coach Andrew," said Coral Thomas of her son, who, as one of the world's top juniors, is working with Stoltenberg instead of TA.
"It's disappointing that TA choose not to support Andrew. They've invited him into the AIS but we think Andrew has a better chance of making it in tennis by working with Jason."
The new forces of world tennis have forged their success on governing bodies financially supporting prime junior talent to be groomed by coaches of their own choosing.
But when Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood organised a meeting with Tiley to discuss Stoltenberg possibly working with TA, "Craig didn't even entertain the idea", Stoltenberg told The Sun-Herald.
"All he basically said is, 'Look, we financially support programs that we have full control of. If kids choose to work with you, that's their decision. But they need to know we're not in a position of wanting to support them if they do it."'
Stoltenberg is a former Wimbledon semi-finalist and has coached world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt. And he's now widely regarded in tennis circles as the leading junior coach in the country. He was head coach of TA's high-performance unit three years ago, but was at constant loggerheads with Tiley and resigned.
Four of the five Australian boys in the French Open juniors have left TA's program.
"The parents are paying a fortune," Stoltenberg said.
"Two families have been able to cover themselves to a point, but Andrew's can't do it much longer. They're getting no assistance at all. I would have thought the main priority was to help their development in any way possible."
Thomas, 18, nearly had to fly home before the French Open juniors because the cash was running out. He'll have private backing for junior Wimbledon.
Stoltenberg, who also coaches Jared Easton and Isabella Holland on his court in the Melbourne suburb of Templestowe, will spend his own money to be with them at Wimbledon.
World Sport