Tennis guru Peter Burwash says future of the game is in Asia
Famed coach Peter Burwash says the time has finally come for players from the region to claim their rightful place among the game's elite
Coming to Asia always excites Peter Burwash. Not because he's flying the best airlines or staying in the best hotels or enjoying the best food, but because he knows Asia is entering "a great new era" in world tennis.
Kei Nishikori's victory at the Japan Open last weekend and Zhang Ze's ground-breaking success at the China Open, where he reached the quarter-finals, are cases in point that Burwash - tennis guru, motivational speaker, author, world traveller, master coach and ex-athlete - knew were coming years ago.
"It's a great era because now Asian players believe," said Burwash, who was in Hong Kong this past week as part of a whirlwind Asian tour, speaking and providing corporate training.
"Part of being a good athlete and part of becoming a winner is that you have to believe, and most of the Asians didn't believe in their hearts they could win before. I love what's happening now. Nishikori beating [Canada's] Milos Raonic - that's a classic example of the smaller player beating a big, booming server."
Burwash can speak from experience, having been a top player (albeit not on the ATP circuit), amassing 19 singles and doubles titles during his pro years from 1967 to 1974. But tennis was not his first love. He was drafted by the St Louis Blues in the National Hockey League long before he was Canada's number one tennis player.
Burwash has been to Hong Kong many times before. Since starting his company - Peter Burwash International (PBI), the world's largest tennis-management company - 37 years ago, the 67-year-old has enjoyed the buzz Asia creates. And he's excited Asian players are beginning to make their mark.