Coaching Philosophy and Our Method

A continuous education that will never stop

At the heart of my coaching is a commitment to continuous education and experience. As a certified coach through PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) and PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry), I’m constantly learning and evolving to bring the best to my players.

I believe in building tennis players, not just lesson takers. Tennis is more than a sport—it teaches independence, resilience, and problem-solving. Tennis is a very well rounded sport and quoting Tom Gullikson a tennis player needs to be physically fit, technically sound, tactically wise, and mentally tough.

Two sentences guide my coaching approach:

• "Play tennis, not tennis strokes." – Tom Gullikson

• "Teach the Why, then the How." - PTR International Conference (Italian Federation Method)

Every player is unique. There is not a magic recipe to become a great tennis player—it requires adaptability and creativity. My goal is to develop “Universal Players” * who can adapt to any situation before specializing.

I focus on communication by asking questions rather than giving answers. This helps players step out of their comfort zones and learn to solve problems independently, just like they’ll need to do in real matches—and in life.

“Mountains” based Approach and “Universal Player“*

• Ages 3–6: Mountain 1 – Fundamental Stage

  • Coordination, Fun, Play, and Early Engagement

• Ages 6–8: Mountain 2 – Technique & Agility Stage

  • Refining coordination and reaction, and learning fundamental techniques

• Ages 8–12: Mountain 3 – Building the Universal Player

  • A lot of focus on technique and tactics. Learn a variety of shot types and strategies

• Ages 12–14: Perfection of the Universal Player

  • Advanced technical and tactical development; Begin light strength training and explosive movement work

• Ages 14–16: Specialization & Strength Phase

  • Specialize based on individual strengths and playing style; Strength and power training becomes more structured; Build a solid physical base to support future high-level play

• Ages 16+ (High Level Phase)

  • Perfection of specialized game; Continue physical, tactical, and technical growth

* The concept of Universal Players I learned it from the Italian Tennis Federation Presentation at the PTR International Conference

Lesson Structure – The Hourglass Method (PTR Framework)

Every lesson follows a proven structure:

1. Open Phase (Observation)

2. Semi-Closed Phase (warm up)

3. Closed Phase (Skill Development)

4. Semi Open Phase (Skill Development in practice)

5. Open (Game/Cool Down)

Development Blocks (The Pyramid)

1. Consistency

2. Precision

3. Tactic & Space Awareness

4. Game Strengths

5. Exploiting Opponent Weaknesses