I've spent 30 years around the very best.
I'm Carl. I started at the Belgian tennis federation in 1992, coached Kim Clijsters from junior to world #1, captained the Belgian Fed Cup team to the final, led women's tennis at the LTA, and built and ran the Kim Clijsters Academy. Today I'm PTR's International Director of Coaching, and I speak to teams and boardrooms about what high performance actually looks like up close.
The tennis world calls me "The Professor". I've never minded it.
1992 → today.
- 1992Belgian Tennis Federation
Started my journey coaching at the Belgian federation, the classroom where everything began.
- 1996–2002Coaching Kim Clijsters
From junior to the top of the WTA. Roland Garros final 2001, and a Fed Cup that still gives me goosebumps.
- 2006Fed Cup Captain, Belgium
Led our national team all the way to the Fed Cup final. A masterclass in team, pressure and belief.
- 2007–2013Head of Women's Tennis, LTA
Six years building the women's game in Great Britain, coaches, players, pathways and culture.
- 2014–2020Director, Kim Clijsters Academy
Trained juniors and pros from 62 countries. Built an academy where champions could grow up.
- 2020Performance Director, Tenerife Tennis Academy
Rebuilding a high-performance environment on the island, sun, structure, standards.
- 2025PTR International Director of Coaching
Now leading coach education worldwide, after heading the PTR Level 3 Performance Coach Program.
Players I've worked with.
Three things I believe.
Environment beats talent.
Talent is a starting point. The environment around a player, human, physical, cultural, decides who they become.
Simplicity is the final sophistication.
The best players and teams I've worked with don't do more. They do fewer things, better, more often.
Warm demanders win.
Care hard. Ask hard. Never one without the other. It's how you earn the right to push a person who has options.
Let's talk about your next level.
Whether it's a keynote, a player, a coaching team or an academy, I'd love to hear where you are and where you want to be.