LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There’s a tennis instructor in Louisville with a special mission in mind: teaching children, and hopefully change their lives, using a sport they enjoy most.

Tennis coach Matthew Taylor is about to do something that he absolutely enjoys. He’s getting ready to teach some special people about tennis.

“It’s a great game. It’s a game that I love. I love to share the great experiences.” Taylor said.

But before he can share those experiences, he’s gotta get ready.

Taylor has the heart of a teacher. He started out in the classroom and has been coaching for 16 years, coming to Louisville in 2015 to coach tennis.

One of his missions is to make sure children of color are exposed to tennis. He said right now, there just aren’t enough decent facilities in Louisville’s West End that are available. And places in the city’s East End are just too expensive for many families, he said.

“I believe in giving these young kids opportunities to be exposed to a game that can open so many doors.” Taylor explained.

Louisville Metro councilwoman Keisha Dorsey, in partnership with the Louisville area US Tennis Association, provided weeks of free tennis lessons to adults and young people at Algonquin Park.

“It’s amazing.” Maddie Notoris, the Community Tennis Manager, US Tennis association Kentucky District explained. “A big goal for USTA is to pick up grassroots tennis and put rackets in kids hands."

Rackets, balls, nets — everything is provided. All the students have to do is show up to learn.

Taylor explained to one of his students “Remember how we were talking about choking up? So, instead of holding it down here, hold it up here, right? You don’t have to do anything. It’s all about control.”

Tennis student Alexis Osborne participates in her lessons as her mother watches nearby. Several students participate in the free lessons. (Spectrum News 1/David Williams)

Nine-year-old Alexia Craig is one of Taylor’s students. Craig said she absolutely loves the lessons

“It’s kind of entertaining to me, and it helps me get more active.” Craig said.

Her mother, Stephanie Craig, said her daughter is a cross-country runner, loves to swim and looks for new challenges. Mom said she’s excelling lately.

“I think it’s amazing. I think we need more programs like this, right? It shouldn’t be able having to pay money to get your kids involved in stuff," Stephanie Craig said. "I get that there’s fees and things associated with everything. But the fact that you have a world-class coach like him out here for kids of all ages and all backgrounds. I don’t have enough positive things to say. It’s amazing.”

13-year-old Jeremiah Moore has taken a few weeks of these free lessons too.

“I love it.” Moore explained. “it gave me better use of my control. In basketball, I usually try to use all my strength to make shots. This teaches me that I can’t just go full-in heads-blazing. I gotta have control, plan out my strategy and all that.”

Taylor said he hopes the children that take these free lessons understand something.

“Empowering kids, reducing the struggle of feeling self-conscious that they’re not good enough.” Taylor explained.