What a real treat it is to have Casey Dellacqua on The Coaching Podcast. Emma Doyle has known Casey for many years and watched her development closely over the years. In this episode, she talks about the Wimbledon semi-final matchups as well as the importance of keeping tennis fun. What does Casey think makes a great coach? Someone who is an effective communicator, demonstrates respect and has fun.

Casey Dellacqua retired from professional tennis in 2018 as one of Australia’s most popular and classy representatives. The West Australian was an integral member of the Australian Fed Cup team and a dual Olympian. Dellacqua first captured the nation’s heart when she made her Australian Open debut as a 17-year-old in 2003.

Dellacqua joined the world’s top 50 for the first time in 2008 following a breakthrough Australian Open where she made the fourth round. Shoulder and foot surgeries in 2009 and 2010 halted her progress before the left-hander returned in 2011, winning six ITF Pro Circuit titles in a row, as well as the French Open Mixed doubles title with American Scott Lipsky. Dellacqua enjoyed enormous success on the women’s doubles tour and was ranked as high as number three in the world. She made the 2008 French Open final with Francesca Schiavone, and was a finalist with a close friend and now world No.1 Ash Barty at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, all in 2013.
Dellacqua rose to a career-high singles ranking of 26 in 2014. A fall at the China Open in 2015 left Dellacqua with concussion symptoms that lasted for more than a year and led to the end of her singles career. She eventually left the game to spend more time with her growing family before being honoured with the Spirit of Tennis Award at the end of 2018.

Dellacqua is now a respected commentator and is passionate about growing and developing the game in Australia through mentoring and coaching.