Noëlle van Lottum, Head of Women’s Tennis: “It’s crucial that we see more girls playing”

In a recent interview, Noëlle van Lottum discussed her journey from her early days as a player to her current role as Head of Women’s Tennis at Tennis Canada. She began her tennis career in the Netherlands at the age of nine, where she quickly caught the attention of her local club and the Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Federation. By the age of 14, she was representing the Netherlands before transitioning to the French Tennis Federation following her outstanding performances in junior tournaments.

“Under the guidance of the French Tennis Federation, I had the opportunity to develop my game and became France’s under-16 champion, reaching No. 2 in the world in juniors,” shared Noëlle.

After an exceptional professional career that saw her break into the world’s Top 50 and win a WTA title in singles and doubles, Noëlleshifted her focus to coaching, founding her own tennis academy in the Netherlands.

“I’ve always had a special passion for coaching and developing young talents,” she emphasized. “This allowed me to work with several promising players, including Ysaline Bonaventure, Petra Martic, Kiki Bertens, Harmony Tan, Tim van Rijthoven and Jesse Hutalagung.”

Her journey then led her to England before she received an offer from Tennis Canada, where she committed to enhancing the women’s tennis program. In her role, she is heavily involved in High Performance programs such as the National Training Centre (NTC) presented by Rogers and the U15 Canadian Prospect Team, ensuring the development of Canada’s top tennis talents. She closely guides young players transitioning to the professional ranks, such as Victoria Mboko and Marina Stakusic, collaborating closely with their respective teams.

“My main goal is to increase the number of Canadian women players in the Top 100,” Noëlleadded. “We already have strong talents like Leylah Annie Fernandez, Bianca Andreescu, Marina Stakusic, and Rebecca Marino, but we aim to cultivate more depth in our pool of young talent.”

Within the first few months under her leadership, the Canadian Billie Jean King Cup team achieved a historic milestone by winning the prestigious world championships, thereby rewriting the record books for women’s tennis in Canada.

She firmly believes in encouraging more young girls to play tennis to build a strong talent base. With a clear vision and steady support, she aims to create an environment where young Canadian players can cultivate their passion for tennis, benefiting from quality training and fair opportunities to excel.

“It’s crucial that we see more girls playing, so we can have more participating in junior Grand Slams. We currently have few, so it’s critical to bring in new talent. Given our limited numbers, we can’t afford any mistakes,” Noëlle affirmed.

Noëlle also underscored the importance of fostering a supportive environment for players, focusing on both the technical and mental side of the sport, with meticulous monitoring, high-quality training, and ongoing support through national centres. “It’s essential to see more players emerging from our national centres,” she emphasized.

She highlighted the importance of supporting players at all stages of their careers, from transitioning from juniors to professionals to maintaining success on the international circuit.

“I will work to promote this initiative to propel more girls aged 15 to 18, as well as those reintegrating after studying in American colleges. Meanwhile, I must also provide support and collaborate with provincial and national coaches to ensure their continuous development.”

In conclusion, Noëlle expressed her commitment to building a strong program that not only produces competitive athletes but also inspiring role models for the next generation. She emphasized that by nurturing more players to reach the highest levels of the sport, they will in turn inspire young women and girls to take up tennis. This creates a positive cycle, whereby success motivates future generations to pursue their dreams and make their own mark on the sport.

“We are in a rebuilding phase, but with a clear vision and hard work, we can achieve our goals,” she said. Noëlle aims for Team Canada to win medals at the tennis events in Paris, where five players, including three women, are participating. Afterwards, she will travel to Toronto to attend the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, where she will support the Canadian players competing in this prestigious event on home soil.