Louis Borfiga/Tennis Canada

TENNIS CANADA APPOINTS LOUIS BORFIGA VICE-PRESIDENT OF HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT, HIRES BOB BRETT AS CONSULTANT
Internationally renowned leaders to advance Canadian tennis

May 4, 2006 - Tennis Canada announced Thursday that Louis Borfiga (pronounced LOU-EE BOR-FEE-GA) has been named vice-president, high performance athlete development and Bob Brett has been hired as high performance consultant. Beginning August 2006, Borfiga will be stationed in Montreal following a brief transition period in Toronto. Brett will be on contract to Tennis Canada for five months annually, starting June 2006.
“Louis and Bob will give tennis in Canada instant international credibility,” exclaimed Tennis Canada Chair Jack Graham. “A large part of the world tennis landscape has been built through the efforts of these two gentlemen. They are both focused on results and achieve their goals by spending each day on the tennis court. We were encouraged by their hands-on leadership style.”
Since 1990, Borfiga has been the director of national coaches at INSEP, a national training centre for some of the top junior players in the world, located in France. He also serves as the coordinator of French junior tennis programs.
The French Tennis Federation is known as one of the leading tennis development systems in the world and Borfiga has been a major factor leading to its success. Over the past five years, Borfiga has coached six junior Grand Slam champions from France, including 2004 World Junior Champion and 2005 ATP Newcomer of the Year Gaël Monfils, currently ranked No. 35 on the ATP Tour. His coaching resume also includes current Top 100 ranked players such as Fabrice Santoro (No. 52), Nicolas Mahut (No. 78) and Julien Benneteau (No. 84).
Borfiga will focus on athlete development in areas that include: annual player plans; tours and camps; national teams such as Davis Cup and Fed Cup; lead and operate the Toronto and Montreal national training centre programs; sport science; and a partnership with IMG Bollettieri Academy in Florida.
“I welcome the opportunity to combine best practices we have developed at the French Tennis Federation with the top programs currently in place in Canada,” said Borfiga. “The commitment to excellence shown by Tennis Canada equals the dedication and forward thinking that I will demonstrate in my new role. I look forward to working with the highly-qualified Canadian coaches and leaders to further develop champions and grow our sport.”
Current vice-president of tennis development, Hatem McDadi, who was a member of the selection committee, will continue to champion a team that concentrates on Canadian coaching development, officiating development, competitive structure and community development. He was a leader in creating Canada’s first national training centres at Rexall Centre and Uniprix Stadium, and assisted in the establishment of 40 high performance tennis development centres across Canada. McDadi will also help ensure the transition to Borfiga is seamless.
Borfiga, 51, played for his native country of Monaco for nine years in Davis Cup action and played as a professional from 1972-1977. He was also a sparring partner of tennis legend Bjorn Borg.
Brett, one of the more recognizable tennis coaches in the world, has served the sport and its elite players for the past 34 years. His most notable coaching tenure came from 1987-91 when he guided top-ranked Boris Becker to Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles. Known as a teacher who looks to maximize potential in his players, Brett has coached Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic and other stars on the ATP Tour including Andrei Medvedev, Nicolas Kiefer and up-and-comer Mario Ancic. Under Brett’s tutelage, Sania Mirza of India improved both her game and fitness which has led to a Top 40 ranking and the 2005 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Newcomer of the Year award. His coaching career started through the guidance of Harry Hopman. Brett began coaching on the ATP tour in 1979.
            “I am very excited about working on this project in Canada,” exclaimed Brett. “I have enjoyed working with junior players throughout the world and now look to help bring great success to Canadian athletes. Louis and I have worked together in the past, and together, we hope to bring the best out of Canadian elite coaches and players.”
Brett, 52, a native of Melbourne, Australia, will lead the Under 12 talent development in partnership with Andre Labelle and the Provincial Tennis Associations. He will also consult elite players and work with the Tennis Canada coaching department to fully develop top-level coaches and leaders in Canada.
The world-class Bob Brett Tennis Centre, located in San Remo, Italy, is devoted to identifying young talent and delivering comprehensive, highly personalized coaching. Brett’s name has drawn some of the top tennis players because of his experience, vision and coaching philosophy. He will welcome elite Canadian athletes periodically to train with him at his centre as part of his contract.

“We are thrilled to have experienced and credible tennis professionals such as Louis and Bob to help shape the future of Canadian tennis,” expressed Michael S. Downey, president and chief executive officer, Tennis Canada. “The screening and selection committees performed a thorough international search for a proven tennis leader and were fortunate to return with two world-class individuals. This hiring will guide Tennis Canada and its numerous partners towards its mission of developing a system that produces champions.”

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