"At this age it is not all about the winning but about playing good tennis and making sure the game is developing."
Donald spent 15 years coaching in Germany and is a highly regarded elite coach who spends time coaching in Eastern Europe.
He is realistic about the chances of ever producing world class players in New Zealand, especially when the one we do have in Marina Erakovic is treated so poorly by the sport's governing body.
"Here locally in interclub, the numbers have come back a little," Donald said. "Two or three years ago we had substantially more teams. It seems kids want to do other things these days than play tennis."
Mathew says he wants to be a top class player like his favourite Andy Murray: "I practise for an hour or more nearly every day. It is fun. I like winning and playing tournaments."