Arturo Navarro may be new to Hua Hin, but already knows the mark he’d like to leave. “When you think of tennis in Thailand,” he said, “you will think of True Arena.
An ambitious goal to be sure, but as the Director of Tennis at True Arena Hua Hin, Arturo is in a prime position to make this happen. Arturo comes to True Arena Hua Hin via Peter Burwash International, Inc (PBI) a tennis management company founded in 1975 with contracts around the world. PBI has a long history of identifying energetic and dynamic teaching professionals, training them to exacting standards to meet the needs of both tennis players and resort and club managers.
Arturo is a certified PBI Tennis Professional. Arturo has been with PBI for almost nine years. Before accepting his current 2-year contract with True Arena, his assignments have included posts in Dubai, Muscat, Austria and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This formerly top-ranked junior player for his native Mexico, went on to compete in Division 1 level tennis for the University of Nebraska where he earned a degree in marketing. Injuries stopped Arturo from going pro after college, but his love of the sport never diminished.
“I love the sport,” he said. “It is my passion. I like sharing my knowledge. If I can help someone that really makes my day.” Not wanting to let go of the sport he loved so much, Arturo turned his attention to coaching and helping others find a passion for tennis. When asked the top three things coaching has taught him, the certified USPTA Elite Professional was reflective and answered, “First is personalisation. Every person is different, and you can’t teach with just one system. You have to treat each person as an individual.” His second lesson was to listen to what the customer wants. What are their goals? What do they want to achieve? He said it is also important to ‘listen’ to their body language to determine what they need that they might not be saying out loud. “Listen, observe, teach,” he said. And the final thing coaching has taught him? “Relax and enjoy life.”
Arturo shared his philosophy on being disciplined – create rituals. “All tennis players have rituals,” he said. “There are so many things you can’t control that rituals help you get in the right mindset.” A good warm up with music, note taking, and a newly strung racquet with a new grip are some of his rituals when he is competing. But to turn professional is a rough road. “You have to really want to be a professional,” he said. “It’s about hard work as well as talent. And, you have to be strong mentally. One of the big goals for Arturo is to train Thai tennis players to become professional tennis players. True Arena has established a Tennis Academy, and is always striving to find new ways to attract Thai talent. This includes setting up player scholarships and sponsorships.
So far his biggest challenge at True Arena is the transient population of tourists, and holiday travellers from Bangkok who are only in for long weekends. In light of this, he is working closely with the management team to create programs that will appeal to residents as well as travellers. Arturo is married to his wife of eight years Ulrike, who is a kinesiologist and sports trainer. “I’ve been married three times to my same wife,” he said with a smile. “First in Austria (where they both lived when they met), then in Germany (where Ulrike is from), and finally in Mexico (where he is from).” Aside from tennis, Arturo likes to work out in the fitness centre, and golf when time allows.