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‘Legendary’ tennis player gives Salmon Arm admirers a day to remember

‘Most decorated tennis player in Canadian history’ spends time coaching locals
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Coach Uros Budimac, Shannon Hecker, Yana Bonthuys, Marietjie Bonthuys, coach and Olympian Daniel Nestor, Lars Tegtmeyer, Randy Arsenault and Al Mostrovich take time out from high-level lessons on April 10, 2022 at the Salmon Arm Tennis Club indoor facility to pose for a photo. (Salmon Arm Tennis Club photo)

‘A highlight day’ is how Salmon Arm Tennis Club director Winston Pain enthusiastically describes April 10, when Canadian tennis legend Daniel Nestor returned to Salmon Arm.

“Nestor is the most decorated player in Canadian history, having won 91 professional tournaments in his illustrious career, including eight Grand Slams (Wimbledon, French Open, Australian and U.S. Open), as well as the gold medal at Sydney, Australia. He was also awarded the Order of Canada to recognize his outstanding contribution to Canada on the world stage,” Pain explained.

Nestor came to Salmon Arm in 2019 as part of the Askew Tennis Centre’s grand opening. Pain said he was delighted and impressed Saturday with the finished facility. When Nestor visited in 2019, the courts weren’t even paved.

“When he walked in, he just went oh my god; he was very impressed,” Pain said.

Read more: Grand opening of indoor facility at Salmon Arm Tennis Club draws crowd

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The 2022 visit came to be when Nestor’s friend and level 3 Canadian coach, Uros Budimac, called Pain, saying Nestor was coming through and would be willing to provide lessons and one-on-one time with local players.

Pain said no other club in the Interior took him up on the offer, but Salmon Arm was a different story.

“In seven hours we sold out. Our club, as usual, just blew it out of the water.”

Twenty-four local players signed up for the day, with one person from out-of-town taking a spot at the last minute when someone couldn’t make it.

Both Budimac and Nestor coached, with both playing six hours of tennis that day. Pain said the time was packed with both instruction and match play, and the locals were able to experience being on the court with the legendary Nestor.

Pain said Budimac is a world-class coach, one of Canada’s top-eight coaches. He and Daniel are good friends, originally from Serbia.

“Everyone got their fix,” Pain said of the local players.

He said Nestor is an easy-going and really funny guy.

“He loved Salmon Arm. I said we’re looking for a pro. He said, send my wife a video,” laughed Pain, adding that Nestor wouldn’t give him her email. Pain explained that Nestor has two daughters and his family lives in Toronto, so they aren’t planning a move.



martha.wickett@saobserver.net
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Olympian Daniel Nestor stands at the back of centre court during a game, part of his day of coaching at the Askew Tennis Centre in Salmon Arm on Saturday, April 10. (Salmon Arm Tennis Club photo)


Martha Wickett

About the Author: Martha Wickett

came to Salmon Arm in May of 2004 to work at the Observer. I was looking for a change from the hustle and bustle of the Lower Mainland, where I had spent more than a decade working in community newspapers.
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