Peter Lucassen from Vught was 6 years old when he played tennis for the first time at the local tennis club. After that he was almost impossible to get off track. He had talent and after high school he chose college tennis in America. After ten years it started to itch and he returned to Brabant to be closer to his family. Now he lives in Den Bosch with his partner and baby Max.
In America they saw a good player, but also a talented coach in the Brabander. “I coached young players and they developed well. The American tennis association saw that too and I worked there for about ten years. If you have the right attitude, there are plenty of options.”
He came back to the Netherlands three years ago. “I have always had good contact with the Dutch tennis association in America and I was given the opportunity to get started. There were boys with potential, such as Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Greek track. They play tennis insanely well, but they have made great strides in their professionalism and are now in the top 30.”
“They are insanely good at tennis.”
The 35-year-old tennis coach recently started his new adventure to prepare former world top player Gaël Monfils for the Olympic Games in Paris. Due to a long-term injury, the Frenchman has dropped to 400th place in the world rankings. “He wants to take action for his own audience at the Olympic Games in 2024. That must be a madhouse with all those supporters.”
Last week Peter was in the stands for the first round of Roland Garros. Monfils won a nerve-racking match in five sets. “I have hardly ever seen such an insane duel. Gaël lives for such moments. When he plays, something always happens. It’s a great guy on and off the track. It is a pity that Gaël got injured and now also misses the Rosmalen tennis tournament.”
“When he plays, something always happens.”
Peter likes to be with his family, but gets on a plane even more often than a holiday travel reviewer. “For Roland Garros, we trained in his hometown for two weeks. I will also be traveling to America soon, where he will play tournaments in preparation for the US Open grand slam tournament in New York.”
Although Peter is only 35, he has built up a huge resume. He has a clear wish for the long term. “It remains wonderful for me to get to work with compatriots. How nice is it when you see Dutch tennis players take great steps. As a coach you can contribute, but in the end they have to do it on the court itself. The fight with the opponent, but sometimes also with oneself.”