PETER Luczak's tennis career started on the local courts at Notting Hill Pinewood in Glen Waverley.
He began working with a club coach as a 12 year old, a partnership Luczak now credits with instilling in him his love for elite tennis, something he clearly still has to this day.
After countless matches and 11 years as a pro player Luczak said farewell at the Australian Open in front of a roaring crowd on Friday night.
At his side when his last shot hit the tape and fell short was good mate Lleyton Hewitt as the pair lost to men's doubles No.1 seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in two tough sets.
Hewitt was quick to grab Luczak in a tight embrace before the players shook hands and left the court.
Luczak, who spent his formative years in Mulgrave, said his final appearance was all the work of Hewitt, who rang him leading into the tournament and urged him to enter the doubles competition so he could have a farewell game in his home town, at his home grand slam.
"I would never ask him to play," Luczak said. "He knew it was my last one and he wanted to do me a favour.
"He doesn't normally play doubles at grand slams but he did the same thing at Wimbledon last year.
"We played doubles together the week before it and we made the semis so he said let's play doubles at Wimbledon.
"I was like 'Are you sure?' We played and lost first round. He did me a great favour."
Luczak was so concerned about Hewitt's third-round singles clash, scheduled for Saturday night, that he called Hewitt on Friday and told him they should withdraw so Hewitt could preserve himself for the singles.
Luczak said Hewitt wouldn't let them withdraw.
"This morning I made sure that I called him and said 'Mate, we are not playing. I'm happy we played that first match with a great crowd'," he said.
"But he is really loyal to friends. He said 'mate, we are playing, I need a hit anyway'.
"People don't understand, he is a really nice guy."
Luczak said the friendships with players like Hewitt along with playing Davis Cup tennis with other Australians would always live with him.
"I remember the first few times I was playing Roland Garros or Wimbledon qualifying, Lleyton was probably number 1 in the world at that time and I don't know where I was ranked, probably 250," he said.
"I saw him at the back of the court and said to myself 'Is that Lleyton? what's he doing watching me play?' I got very nervous after that.
"Then afterwards he said 'good match' and invited me to dinner.
"After that we have always been good friends and when we were playing in the same tournaments we would be practising together or having dinner together."
Luczak said despite his love for the game, professional tennis had passed him by and it was time for him to focus on his post-tennis career.
"There are too many young guys out there, I can't keep up any more," he said.
"When you play in that type of atmosphere like today you want to play again but I know that in the tournaments I'm playing it's not like that every week, it's not even close.
"Guys are getting better and my results haven't been that good. The main factor is that I have two young kids and I want to spend more time with them and my wife."
Luczak, whose career high ranking was 64 in August 2009, said the highlights of his career were playing in
all four grand slams and repre-
senting Australia in the Davis Cup.
"I wasn't a great junior growing up," he said. "I'm happy I was able to represent my country in Davis Cup, play in all the grand slams and be a top 100 player, for the small time I was in there.
"I feel like I always had to work pretty hard for what I achieved. I feel pretty satisfied, I don't have any regrets."
Off court he has also made a big impact, spending two terms on the ATP World Tour players council, the body which represents professional tennis players,
It's led by superstars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
"First couple of meetings I didn't say too much," Luczak said.
"I couldn't believe I was sitting next to the guys.
"But after as while you get used to it, just like getting used to being mates with Lleyton.
"They do take my opinion on board, especially about subjects that would be more important to guys who are ranked between say 50 or 100."
With his wife Katarina and children Sebastian, aged 4, and Millie, 2, Luczak said he looked forward to more time with them while also making his move towards coaching.
He will work with Hewitt during 15 weeks of the year although veteran mentor Tony Roche will continue as Hewitt's coach.
"I will be doing whatever I can to help, so hitting up with him, booking practice courts etcetera," he said.
"It's always nice to have someone in the stands pumping you up and whatnot."
Luczak said it was important for pro players to not forget where they came from. He recalled his first venture into an ATP event while he was playing college tennis at Fresno State University in the US.
"I couldn't believe they picked you up at the airport and took you to the court," he said.
"They had free food for lunch. It gives you a lot of motivation. To me I was like 'this is the life'.
"The way they treat you, a lot of guys who do it week in, week out take it for granted because we are pretty spoilt."
He also urged young players to keep searching for ways into pro tennis, even if they missed out in their early attempts.
"If you love tennis and love competing, you've got to be out there every day," he said.
"There are so many opportunities. I loved playing college tennis. If you don't make the pro tour straight away there are other pathways and other opportunities for you."
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