Corbett Still Holding Court

By Georgie Swanborough on April 6, 2012 in People

Just when most people start to slow down, Bronte local Doug Corbett got going. At the not so tender age of 65, Doug took to the Seniors Tennis circuit. Now, twenty years on, has the remarkable record of having won 26 Australian and International individual titles as well as being in many winning national and international team events.

Doug’s most recent victory came at the Tennis Seniors Australian Championships held in Perth in January. The 85 year-old competed in the singles and doubles (with partner John O’Brien) in the 80 years and over category and managed to take home both titles.

And Doug’s talents have taken him far further afield than Perth. Last October he travelled to Turkey to take home his third international doubles title. He lost the singles final in a fluctuating, but no doubt exciting, three-hour match.

As well as a being a tennis star, Doug is also a father and grandfather, and his grandchildren get the enviable privilege of free coaching from a world champion.

On the weekend Doug plays with a group of mature age players who share his love for the game. According to one regular, Ian, “Doug is most gracious – he comes back from tennis touring with yet more notches on his belt, gets onto the court with the also-rans and makes a game of it for us. Rather like we have come to expect of Federer, Nadal and others, Doug can always go up a notch or three if he thinks we are getting too ‘cocky’ at the other end of the court.”