Wesley Horskins

Wes was an outstanding junior player whose results included twice reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Junior Championships and winning numerous state-level junior tournaments in Melbourne. Internationally, he won prestigious World Level 2 national junior titles, including the Czechoslovakian Junior Championships in Slovakia and the Swiss National Junior Title in Landquart.

Wes also represented Australia in the World Junior Esso Challenge and represented Victoria in both the Wayne Reid Cup and Linton Cup teams. He was ranked the number one junior in Victoria and number four in Australia for his age group. At just 17 years of age, Wes played at number one in State Grade—the highest open competition level in Victoria—and won six of his seven singles matches.

Wes went on to compete on the Men’s ATP Tour for six years, playing in many of the world’s largest tournaments. This included competing in the main draw of both the singles and doubles events at the 1982 Australian Open, as well as the qualifying events at the French Open and Wimbledon Championships.

His highest Australian singles ranking was No. 35, while his career-high world rankings were No. 398 in singles and No. 252 in doubles.

Wes also represented Oklahoma State University in the NCAA after receiving a full athletic scholarship. He later began his professional coaching career at the prestigious Haza del Algarrobo Tennis Centre in Fuengirola, Spain, where he coached many of Andalucía’s leading junior players.

Wes eventually returned to Melbourne, where he coached and managed programs at numerous private clubs, private schools and commercial tennis centres, including Malvern Tennis Centre. During this period, he also returned to play Tennis Victoria State Grade Pennant at number one and completed his Diploma of Education.

In 2008, Wes became one of only 15 national Tennis Australia Hot Shots mentors, assisting with the development and delivery of Hot Shots coach education throughout Australia.

Wes also served for 12 years as a Board Member of Tennis Coaches Australia, contributing to the development of coaching-related initiatives and education programs. He also worked as a coach assessor within the TCA training school.

Wes was elected by his peers to represent Australian tennis coaches on Tennis Australia’s National Coaching Advisory Group. He served as Chairperson from 2009 to 2014, advocating for coaches and providing guidance on a range of coaching-related issues.

Wes has made a living from playing or coaching tennis for his entire working life. The knowledge gained through more than 40 years of experience has been passed on throughout Futures Tennis Academy and to the many coaches he has trained and mentored.

After retiring from the professional circuit, Wes continued to play competitively and represented Australia twice at the ITF World Team Championships in the over-35 division.

In 2000, he reached the quarter-finals of both the singles and doubles events at the ITF World Over-35 Championships in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. That same year, he won the Australian Over-35 Clay Court Championships and achieved a top-10 position in the ITF World Over-35 rankings.

Wes continues to play Tennis Victoria Pennant in the Men’s Open Doubles competition. He has been part of premiership-winning teams in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Throughout his coaching career, Wes has worked with players ranging from WTA professionals ranked inside the world’s top 200 through to young children beginning their tennis journey with Hot Shots Red Ball. His passion for coaching remains equally strong at every standard of the game.

Wes was inducted into the Tennis Coaches Australia Hall of Fame in 2022 and was subsequently elected President of Tennis Coaches Australia. TCA represents more than 500 tennis coaches across Australia.