Almost 40 years ago to the day, a young man got on his bike and rode 15 miles across the Somerset levels to coach his first tennis lesson, and then rode back again.

"I knew the moment the lesson finished I was hooked," recalls Monmouth's LTA Senior Club coach and schools tutor Chris Davis.

Chris at the time was a very accomplished footballer having captained his school, district and county sides, and only picked up a tennis racket when he was 16.

"We didn't play tennis at school," said Chris, "and perhaps one of my motivations to teach tennis was to give youngsters a much earlier opportunity to play this wonderful game."

Chris quickly became absorbed by all aspects of the game.

Over his long coaching career Chris has admired many former champions such as Laver, Borg, McEnroe, Becker, Sampras and Agassi but has loved the recent head-to-head challenges of Federer and Nadal.

"Both players are class acts and their rivalry has been one of the most fascinating in world sport over the last decade," said Chris.

"Of course a certain Novak Djokovic is now in the dominant spot and our own Andy Murray is desperate to join this elite threesome."

Since moving to the area 21 years ago, Chris has coached hundreds of players in a whole range of different settings including tennis clubs, primary and secondary schools and the tennis hub he established back in 1991 on the Five Acres site in Coleford.

"I started with six children, but two of them were my own," admitted Chris.

"We now have more than 80 players attending between four and 18 years old. We cater for players of all ages and abilities and do our very best to help them reach their potential.

"My experience has taught me that if you make the sessions both fun and challenging you will retain your players for a very long time."

Chris is delivering two week-long tennis courses in Monmouth during the summer.

Week one is 23rd to 27th July and week two 27th to 31st August.

For further information email [email protected]">[email protected] or ring 07791708052.