“It was just me, my bags and my racket”
– Emma Hayman
Globetrotter and self-proclaimed tennis nut, Emma Hayman has had an incredible life thus far.
Leaving her home turf in New Zealand in search of a US college experience in 2007, she has ventured all across the world and never looked back.
Now stationed in Brisbane, Australia as a Head Coach for Queensland Tennis, she is sharing her love for travel and sport with the athletes she now mentors.
Hayman is a prime example of the opportunities a thirst for sport and determination for an education can bring young people.
Independence is certainly a word that comes to mind when you think of Emma. Entering the US with nothing more than self-motivation and a dream, she crafted her own talent DVD’s and CV’s and sent them around the country, hoping for an opportunity.
She was given the chance to attend the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, before deciding to relocate to the University of Charleston in South Carolina. Emma graduated in 2011/2012 with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing.
The Kiwi inspiration spent her summers coaching tennis all over the US, saving up enough money to fund her desire to see more of the world.
“I got my degree under my belt then said; right, I’m just going to go and see the world a little bit”
Her tennis then took her on worldly adventures, gracing countries all over Europe and also making her mark in Egypt, Colombia, Mexico, India and more for over two years.
” I just saw where the next tournament was and said I’m going to go and do that. No coach or anything,” Hayman said.
Emma built up a foundation of WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) ranking points in a number of countries playing federation cup tournaments, and eventually found herself on the New Zealand tennis team.
Finally, Emma accepted a job as Head Coach for Queensland Tennis, where she has been for the past two years, coaching and mentoring the potential future of Australian Tennis.
Asked if she has finally settled in Australia after an inspiring last few years travelling and pursuing sport, Emma answered;
“For now it’s all good…I do get itchy feet. I need to settle down at some stage, but I don’t know when that will be!”