Graduates of Tennis Australia’s Learn2Lead Program

We are pleased to share Sabrina Mohabbat and Amelia Foate are graduates of Tennis Australia’s Learn2Lead program. The program is an eight-week leadership journey designed to help girls under 18 discover their voice, strength, and leadership capabilities in sport and beyond.

Led in NSW by former world-ranked and Fed Cup star Casey Dellacqua, Learn2Lead combined weekly online workshops with two in-person sessions, giving participants the chance to connect, collaborate, and swap experiences face-to-face. Over the past two months, Sabrina and Amelia explored communication, self-awareness, resilience, and teamwork, skills that underpin effective leadership.

On Saturday, Sabrina and Amelia joined ten other graduates at Tennis NSW headquarters, where CEO Darren Simpson applauded the cohort’s courage in pursuing and completing the course. Darren emphasised that courage is the hallmark of leadership and is demonstrated through the confidence to back yourself, seize opportunities, and approach life with a “nothing ventured, nothing gained” mindset.

Speaking from the heart

Each graduate delivered a short presentation covering:

  • their personal tennis journey,
  • the biggest insights gained from the program, and
  • an action project they will drive at their club, school, or community.

Sabrina and Amelia held the room from their opening words to the end of their presentation. With presence, confidence, and authenticity, they shared how, after briefly losing their passion for tennis, they rediscovered the game’s joy through friendship and connection, thanks largely to coach Ella Lanigan at Paul’s Tennis Academy. Both highlighted the troubling 60% annual drop-out rate for teenage girls in tennis and committed to helping reverse it.

Putting leadership into action

As their Learn2Lead project, Sabrina and Amelia will launch regular social-tennis afternoons for girls at Lane Cove. These sessions will be organised as a safe, fun space where young female players can rally, make friends, and build confidence together. Planning is already underway, and they would love support from across our membership. Keep an eye out for dates and details soon.

Thank-yous

Sabrina and Amelia offered special thanks to:

  • Casey Dellacqua – “a constant source of motivation and inspiration.”
  • Ella Lanigan – for reigniting their love of the game – supporting and motivating them to play, coach and generally love being on court
  • their families – another constant shield of support and encouragement
  • Lane Cove members – for welcoming them back to the club and for being on court.

Seeing two of our junior members step forward as role models and credit the club community for nurturing their comeback is both humbling and inspiring.

Congratulations to Sabrina and Amelia on their outstanding achievement.