Todd Woodbridge has opened up about the difficult week his family endured as son Beau struggled to return to the stage. The tennis great also revealed why he never wanted his children pursuing professional tennis — and what he has learned about stepping back as a parent.
Todd Woodbridge may be accustomed to pressure, disappointment and performing on the world’s biggest sporting stages, but the former tennis champion says parenthood has brought challenges of a very different kind.
The 55-year-old Tipping Point host recently reflected on one of the hardest periods he and wife Natasha experienced while supporting their son Beau’s performing career.
For Todd, the situation became a powerful lesson in knowing when to offer guidance — and when to let an adult child navigate his own journey.
A difficult final week for Beau
Beau was playing the lead role of Evan during the Australian tour of Dear Evan Hansen when he developed problems with his voice and health near the end of the production’s run.
He was staying with his parents at the time, allowing Todd and Natasha to witness the physical and emotional toll at close range.
Each morning, Beau’s vocal coach assessed whether he was capable of performing. Despite desperately wanting to return for the closing shows, he was repeatedly told that his voice was not ready.
Todd recalled the atmosphere inside their home as particularly difficult. Beau wanted to fulfil his responsibility to the production, while his parents knew they could not solve the problem for him.
They also had to avoid placing their own emotions and anxiety onto their son as he tried to recover.
A display of resilience that moved his father
Beau eventually returned to the stage and delivered a performance that left Todd deeply affected.
The former tennis star described it as “one of the most resilient things I’d seen,” explaining that the audience could not have known what Beau and his family had endured behind the scenes.
Watching his son push through the setback also helped Todd understand what his own parents may have experienced during his professional tennis career.
Beau’s work might involve theatre rather than a racquet, but Todd recognised the same uncertainty, commitment and emotional investment that come with pursuing an ambitious career.
Beau has since travelled to London as he works towards his goal of performing in the West End. Todd acknowledged that his son must now create his own opportunities and establish himself in an intensely competitive industry.
Why Todd did not want his children playing tennis
Despite his own success, Todd admitted that professional tennis was never the future he imagined for Beau or daughter Zara.
He understood how difficult it could be for a child to pursue the same profession as a highly successful parent. Every result could invite comparisons, while their achievements risked being viewed through the lens of the family name.
Instead, Todd and Natasha focused on introducing their children to different activities and allowing them to decide which opportunities they wanted to pursue.
Beau ultimately found his passion in musical theatre. Zara followed another path, studying nutrition and spending time overseas as part of her education. She also competed at a high level in women’s amateur golf.
Todd said he feels both children have chosen pursuits that genuinely belong to them.
Learning when to step back
As Beau and Zara build their adult lives, Todd is adjusting to a new stage of parenting.
“I have to be aware of butting out. Because it’s not my journey,” he said.
His approach is to help when advice is requested and intervene when meaningful guidance is necessary. At the same time, he accepts that his children need the freedom to make decisions — and mistakes — for themselves.
Todd believes he and Natasha have given their children a strong foundation. What Beau and Zara achieve from here, he says, will depend on the goals they set and the choices they make.
For a father who once controlled every detail of his own preparation and performance, learning to stand back may be one of his most demanding challenges yet.