The greater Atlanta area has long been home to a bustling tennis scene. From neighborhood courts to the Atlanta Open, the sport is important to the livelihood of so many in the region.
This week, Jones & Swanson had the opportunity to chat with tennis professional Rob Carver. As an esteemed coach and player, he shared his love for tennis and its impact in the Cobb County area.
Q1: Tell us about yourself.
Rob Carver grew up watching his dad play, often serving as an impromptu ball boy as a kid. After spending much of his youth playing baseball and basketball, he officially started playing tennis at age 13.
He fell in love with the game and went on to play tennis in college, first at Truett McConnell (Cleveland, GA) before transferring to Berry College (Rome, GA). Rob found himself working a corporate job in finance after graduation, which he worked for three and a half years.
Q2: How did you become a tennis coach?
Rob admitted that he, quite frankly, hated working in the corporate world. Since he had already been coaching on the side for a while, he decided to quit his finance job and pursue tennis coaching full-time. He knew it was a risk, but it was one he was willing to take.
Rob recalls being inspired by a John Wooden quote: “Through adversity, we learn, grow stronger, and become better people.” Luckily, it worked out in his favor and he has enjoyed a successful tennis career ever since.
While the COVID-19 pandemic brought many perils, one good thing that came out of it was a tennis boom. With their new found free time, many people began getting outside and picking up tennis. As a result, Rob found himself booked and busy. To this day, he works seven days a week.
While his busy coaching schedule may seem like it would lead to burnout, that is definitely not the case for Rob. His love for tennis has prevailed through his 34 years of teaching and he sees no sign of it slowing down. When he’s not coaching, you can still find him on the courts playing with a friend (and probably winning!).
q3: What is your experience being apart of the Metro Atlanta Community?
Rob expressed his appreciation for the community he works and lives in. His job allows him to meet people from all walks of life and he sees them beyond just a client. One of the joys of his line of work is the ability to “make their lives better, even if it’s just for that one hour lesson a week.”
It is Rob’s commitment to bettering his clients that he owes his success to. He finds most of his clientele through existing clients who recommend their friends and family to Rob’s lessons. His goal is to make his lessons an escape for his players, a time for enjoyment amongst the chaos of life.
His passion for tennis and uplifting others have led to two very special projects. First, he has written and published his novel, 366 Days of Tennis: A Tip a Day to Improve Your Game. Rob wrote it in order to have something tangible to offer his players that would stand the test of time. Now, the book is available through major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Rob’s second project is a 24-hour tennis challenge he has created, called “ACE OUT ALS.” After watching a family member struggle with ALS, he was motivated to fundraise for the cause. During ACE OUT ALS, Rob coaches one tennis lesson per hour for 24 hours, nonstop. He will be hosting the event again this August 3rd-4th.
Q4: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF YOUR CAREER LOOK LIKE?
When it comes to his future plans, Rob simply hopes to continue thriving in the career he feels incredibly fortunate to have constructed. One of the things he loves about tennis is its consistency. Even when the world is changing, the world of tennis doesn’t.
JONES & SWANSON IS GRATEFUL FOR ROB CARVER AND HIS DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY HE SERVES. FOR ACCESS TO ROB CARVER’S BOOK AND EVENTS, REFER TO THE LINKS ABOVE.
Categories: Community Outreach
