Evan Heyliger has become the first Bermudian tennis coach to attain the prestigious World Tennis Level 3 coaching badge.

Heyliger was one of the four candidates to pass the final assessment in Spain last month after completing the virtual and practical requirements. He completed two weeks of on-court training at the Pancho Alvariño Academy, having fulfilled six weeks of online coursework.

The milestone puts the young coach among the highest-qualified coaches in the world and sets a new benchmark for tennis development on the island.

“I’m quite motivated to continue learning because for me it feels like the beginning of another journey,” Heyliger told The Royal Gazette.

“Even though it’s a great achievement, you know, I feel like there’s just so much more to learn and so much more to apply.”

Heyliger, who is also the World Tennis development officer for the Caribbean, has attributed his progression as a coach to the backing he is getting locally.

“I feel appreciative of the support from the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association and Temple of Tennis,” the 26-year-old said.

“I’ve had good mentorship over the years so felt like it’s just a reflection of the tennis environment and the culture in Bermuda.

“We have good tennis and we have good coaches. The timing clearly shows with us hosting the Davis Cup for the first time in a while after achieving World Group II qualification.

“It’s just an extension of or another step in the journey of trying to improve Bermuda tennis and myself.

“As a development officer and course tutor for level 1 and for level 2, I hope to bring as much of that information and knowledge.

“It is my desire to bring modern teaching methodology to Bermuda and make tennis grow as one of the biggest, if not the biggest and most successful sports on island.

“I think tennis has a lot to give in Bermuda. I think that it’s a great opportunity for a lot of young people to grow and better themselves.

“It’s one of the best sports to teach life skills, mental toughness, responsibility and independence. I think in a practical way as well, it gives a lot of young people an opportunity for scholarships to the United States.

“Scholarship money for tennis is always available. We have children every year that are playing college tennis, so I think it can open a lot of doors for young people that not every sport can give.”

Before levelling up, Heyliger was part of an elite group of four Bermudian coaches holding Level 2. The others are his father Steve Bean, Gavin Manders and Jacklyn Lambert.

“I would encourage coaches to seek as much professional development as possible because it opens your mind and it’s an enjoyable experience,” he said.

“It opens doors for you and more opportunities to grow. I just look forward to seeing where this takes me and where Level 3 takes me for the future.”

Ricky Mallory, the BLTA national tennis director, applauded Heyliger for his latest accomplishment.

“As soon as we at the BLTA were informed that Evan had successfully completed his World Tennis Level 3 coaching certification, I reached out to him personally to congratulate him on this outstanding achievement,” Mallory said.

“It has been a real honour to watch Evan progress over the years and fully embrace his role as a tennis coach and World Tennis development officer for the Caribbean.

“His love for the game, his passion for development and his commitment to growing the sport are evident in everything he does.

“Having come through Temple of Tennis as a junior, I believe it was only a matter of time before Evan found his way into the path he has chosen today.

“The Temple of Tennis has always been a place where young players are surrounded by coaches and mentors who demand excellence, and I’m proud to have been one of those coaches and role models for him.

“Evan has had the opportunity to learn from many great coaches and role models along the way. It is rewarding to now see him becoming a role model and leader for the next generation.

“His Level 3 certification is a tremendous accomplishment, but I believe it is just another step in what will be a very successful career in tennis development.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him and wish him continued success as he continues to give back to the sport he loves.”