From a Facebook Post to Feeling at Home on Court

For over 20 years, Rachel Kelleher had been active in the gym. As a part-time group fitness instructor alongside a busy full-time job, staying fit had always been part of her identity. But after stepping back slightly from instructing, Rachel found herself looking for something different — not to replace exercise, but to complement it.

“I wanted to get out of the gym, try something new and meet new people,” she explains.

Tennis wasn’t an obvious choice. she had never played before. But she was a fan, attending the Australian Open and ASB Classic over the years and enjoying the sport from the stands. Still, like many adults, stepping into a tennis club felt intimidating.

The turning point came through a local Facebook community post advertising Cardio Tennis. What caught Rachel’s attention wasn’t flashy promises or long-term pathways, it was the simplicity.

Any level. All invited. No commitment.

“That jumped out at me straight away,” Rachel says. “Clubs can feel intimidating, and I didn’t want to lock myself into something if it didn’t work for me. This felt like I could just give it a go.” So she did exactly that.

From the moment Rachel arrived at her first Cardio Tennis session the tone felt different.  “Hayden, the coach was so accommodating and welcoming, and the communication beforehand was great. I knew what to expect, which made it so much easier to walk in.” The session itself quickly challenged Rachel’s assumptions about tennis. “It felt more like a fun run-around on court,” she says. “There was no pressure, no feeling that I couldn’t do tennis.”

For Rachel, that combination; informal, social and pressure-free made all the difference. Rachel started to wonder what might come next. “I thought, ‘I’m enjoying this, how do I get better?’” The answer was Tennis Express, an adult entry-level coaching programme offered as a term-based option. Crucially, it still didn’t require long-term commitment. “Tennis Express was perfect because it was still on my terms. One term. Learn more. See how it goes.”

What began as curiosity slowly turned into confidence, and with that confidence came something Rachel never expected. “When I started Cardio, I never imagined I’d play competition tennis. Not at all.”

Fast forward to today, and Rachel has just completed her first season of interclub for Dairy Flat Tennis Club and is now a committed club member. But her journey didn’t stop with her, tennis has become a family affair. Rachel’s positive experience had a ripple effect, her daughter Ava, 15, joined Cardio Tennis and loved it, progressing into coaching sessions. Ava still plays football and swims, but tennis became a new addition rather than a replacement.

Her partner Lyall, who comes from a basketball background, was persuaded to give tennis a go too. “He saw how much I enjoyed it,” Rachel says. “It became a great way for us to spend quality time together.” Now the whole family plays. They drop in for casual hits together, have joined programmes, and have built strong friendships through the club.

Rachel and Lyall have each made close friends, now doubles partners, often meeting for social hit and mostly “girls vs boys” and the girls are giving the boys a run for their money!

Over time, the Kelleher family moved from attendees to contributors. Lyall now helps around the club with odd jobs, and the family feels genuinely connected to the club environment. “It’s become much more than exercise,” Rachel reflects. “It’s community.”

Rachel’s story is a powerful reminder that adults don’t need to be convinced to exercise, they need to feel welcome, safe and unpressured when trying something new.

“There’s so much pressure when you start tennis, everyone else is so good, and that’s intimidating,” she says. “Clubs need programmes that help beginners feel comfortable and give them time to settle in.” Flexible, low-barrier programmes like Cardio Tennis and Tennis Express don’t dilute tennis, they unlock it a provide a space for people to start at a point they are comfortable.

For anyone wondering whether tennis is “for them,” Rachel keeps it simple. “Just give it a go. Be brave enough to try. Cardio Tennis is no pressure, lots of fun, and you’re playing with people at all different levels.”

For more information on Cardio Tennis, click here.