From Ermelo to the world Stage: Tennis super coach John‑Laffnie de Jager keeps raising the game

Former ATP doubles star John‑Laffnie de Jager, who turned a birth injury that damaged a nerve in his leg into what he calls his “greatest gift,” recently guided Team World to victory in the inaugural World Tennis Continental Cup in Shenzhen, China. In an interview with BizNews, the South African who grew up on a farm in Ermelo reflects on the resilience he built overcoming his disability, his partnerships with legends like Martina Navratilova, and organising the Match in Africa between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in Cape Town, which drew a world‑record 51,954 spectators. And he’s far from done. De Jager is now partnering with Stellenbosch University to build a state‑of‑the‑art tennis facility to nurture emerging talent across Africa and revive the South African Open. He has also launched a new leadership venture, Beyond the Baseline, translating tennis‑honed grit, resilience, and mental conditioning into powerful tools for business leaders, teams, and high performers..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here..Watch here.Listen here.Edited transcript of the interview.Linda van Tilburg (00:00) Today we are joined by John-Laffnie de Jager, a former Olympian, seven-time ATP Tour doubles champion, and now the winning head coach of Team World at the inaugural World Tennis Continental Cup. This man has spent his life turning "can't be done" moments into world-class performances. Hi John, thank you so much for joining us today.Before we get to what you're doing now, I want to go back to your earlier years. You played at Wimbledon from a young age, partnered none other than Martina Navratilova, and coached international players like Heather Watson. But you were also told as a child that you might never walk properly. So how did this all happen?John-Laffnie de Jager (00:45) Well, I'm very fortunate and blessed to have had the career I did. When I was born, my heart stopped, and my mother's heart stopped as well. To get my heart going again, they injected me, but instead of injecting my thigh, they injected my buttock and hit the main nerve going down my right leg, damaging it. From birth, I've only had about 10% use of the nerve in my right leg. Doctors said I'd have just a 12% chance of walking properly.My first three years were spent in a brace. Growing up on a farm, my parents luckily didn't listen to the doctors-they raised me as a normal child despite the serious disability. In 2000, when I went to the Olympics, they tested me and I actually qualified for the Paralympics.I wasn't allowed to go barefoot until I was 18, but my dad threw my shoes away one day and said, "It just goes." The most important thing from my childhood is that my parents never treated me as a child with a disability-they brought me up as a normal kid. That really helped me. I always say the greatest gift God gave me was a disability. It has helped me so much with everything I do.I love challenges. When somebody tells me I can't do something, I smile and think, "Okay, I'm going to show you." My whole life has been a challenge-right up to today with my foot. Playing tennis, a moving sport, was especially tough. Everyone I speak to asks how I was able to do it.Growing up, I played both singles and doubles. My big breakthrough came at 12 when I won a tournament in Port Washington in the US. The trophy-a big wooden one with a crystal ball-had names like McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and Stefan Edberg on it. That's when I first thought maybe I should take tennis seriously. Rugby and cricket were my favourite sports; tennis was third and only something I did during holidays.From age 14, I got more serious and started playing internationally. People know me as a double’s player, but my first big achievement was qualifying for Wimbledon at 19 in singles. Six months later, at the Australian Open, in the first round-at 4-3 in the third set-I tore the ligaments in my right ankle. The doctor said I needed to stop, but I continued, not wanting to let my partner down. We hopped through the draw, made the semifinals with Marcus Ondruska, and I reached top 17 in the world in doubles.When I got home, the doctor who'd looked after me since birth said if I wanted to keep playing both singles and doubles, I'd probably only last four years. It was an easy decision-I was privileged just to play tennis every day. Focusing on doubles was straightforward, and that's where my doubles career really took off.Linda van Tilburg (05:30) I can't believe you achieved all that while classified as disabled. Where does this resilience come from? You mentioned growing up on a farm in Ermelo-does it stem from that?John-Laffnie de Jager (06:00) I think it's very important for parents to set the right example-and mine did. Nothing was too much; if you have a goal, you go for it despite challenges. It's all about mindset. My dad, as a farmer, got up at five every morning-rain, snow, cold, heat, didn't matter. My mom worked hard alongside him. They were a great example of hard work.Surrounding yourself with the right people is key. I was fortunate to have the best parents and two supportive sisters who sat through every holiday tournament. Growing up in Ermelo, it really took a village. Many successful people come from there. All my friends' parents were like extra parents to me-you couldn't lie about where you were going because they'd check and even send food! If we were naughty, we got the "five-point plan," and often my friends' dads gave the biggest hidings. It was a wonderful community, and I'm very thankful for it.Linda van Tilburg (08:10) I'd like to hear about the World Tennis Continental Cup. You led Team World to victory in the inaugural event in China. It sounds a bit like tennis's version of the Ryder Cup.John-Laffnie de Jager (08:40) Yes, it does. I've been involved in many team competitions-22 years with World Team Tennis in the US as both player and coach, plus the World Tennis League in India just before this. Tennis is an individual sport, but these team events bring men and women together on the same team, which is great for fans: men's singles, women's singles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles-all formats.The Continental Cup was Team Europe vs. Team World. What made it unique was the scoring: Day 1, each match worth 1 point; Day 2, 2 points; Day 3, 3 points. You could lose half your matches the first two days and still win by taking everything on Day 3. Everyone stays in the competition.China invested heavily- we played in a 20,000-seat indoor facility with good crowds. They have strong female players and improving men. I think it'll become a major December event alongside exhibitions. I'm fortunate to have players like Andrey Rublev (this was our third title together) and Elena Rybakina (our second). In team events, you only have one or two weeks together, bringing different cultures and personalities. The key is getting them to set aside individualism and do what's best for the team.Linda van Tilburg (11:20) You've worked with amazing players on your World team. You've also brought greats like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to South Africa. What did working with athletes of that calibre teach you about excellence at the very top?John-Laffnie de Jager (12:00) I met Roger when he was 12-I was 20, playing in Basel. At the credential desk, his mother Lynette recognised my South African name and mentioned her ball-boy son who loved tennis. We became friends, and years later she joked about feeling like a typical proud mom pushing her kid!My last four years on tour overlapped his first four. I coached him in the Indian Premier Tennis League, and that's when I pitched bringing him to South Africa. It took four years to align dates. For the Match in Africa, we broke the attendance record-51,954 in Cape Town, sold out in nine and a half minutes.Being around Roger, Rafa, and Novak showed me the only currency that buys success is consistency and discipline. Even in exhibitions, they follow their daily habits. The Match in Africa had many firsts: no backdrops, ball kids running up stairs off-court-the poor kids were exhausted!Through my company No Boundaries, we continue hosting events-four international challenges in South Africa this year, plus our new team event "The Showdown." We're planning more. I'm also involved in a nonprofit project with Stellenbosch University: nine acres for a state-of-the-art tennis facility-six indoor courts, stadium, hard and clay courts, pickleball, paddle, accommodation for 40 players. The goal is top African players training there, community access, coach training, and eventually hosting the South African Open again.Linda van Tilburg (16:30) That sounds incredible. Your new venture, Beyond the Baseline, seems to channel the grit, resilience, and teamwork you've learned in tennis into leadership training. Is that right?John-Laffnie de Jager (17:00) Yes, exactly. Playing a movement sport with a disability-where I was told I'd never play sport and had only a 10% chance of walking properly-meant I had to work twice as hard every day just to keep up. I've seen how the best in the world operates and worked with teams, players, and corporates.I'm not a qualified sports psychologist, but my experiences taught me invaluable lessons. My dad always said: listen and ask questions of everyone-you never know who'll give you the insight that changes your life.In life, like driving with GPS, you need a clear destination. Without goals, you take wrong turns and waste time. In a competitive world, knowing where you're going keeps you focused-you get there first and enjoy the rewards.Linda van Tilburg (19:00) As a tennis expert, what's the state of South African tennis right now? We see occasional players at Wimbledon, but where are we with facilities and development? You mentioned bringing the Open back.John-Laffnie de Jager (19:30) We can't avoid referencing the past: strong structures, funding, tournaments-32 South Africans at Wimbledon in 1999. In 2025, only Lloyd Harris. Currently, limited high-performance development and few tournaments. But positives: more international junior events, ITF Futures, and we're hosting four Challengers for the next three years-reducing travel costs.The main pathway now is US college tennis-scholarships, daily training partners, coaches, matches. More local events will help build rankings. Many people are working hard; Tennis South Africa needs better collaboration with private academies for a clear pathway. Players like Devin Badenhorst, Khololwam Montsi, Isabella Kruger are close-hopefully breakthroughs soon.Linda van Tilburg (22:00) Anything else you'd like to add?John-Laffnie de Jager (22:15) With Beyond the Baseline, we're working with schools and parents-the last voice a child hears before bed is often their parent's. Coaches must involve parents, forming a strong triangle: player, parent, coach.In corporates, we help foster the right mindset for breakthroughs in a competitive environment. Teams often handle issues behind closed doors, unlike sport where accountability is open (not to shame, but to help each other). Vulnerability isn't weakness-it's power. Leaders showing they're scared or struggling helps others relate.I've felt it all: nerves on Centre Court, serving for a Grand Slam (I lost serve in mixed doubles final at the Australian Open). Those lessons help me relate. Greatest players aren't always greatest coaches, but combining high-level playing experience with teaching expertise creates magic. Share knowledge, ask questions instead of dictating-that's how you help people reach the next level.

From Ermelo to the world Stage: Tennis super coach John‑Laffnie de Jager keeps raising the game

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