Boys Tennis

The IMG Academy boys tennis program has been built on over 40 years of proven results with an unparalleled development model that set the standard for tennis academies around the world. Ranked in 2023 by Tennis Resorts Online as the Best Junior Tennis Academy, with IMG Academy's team of former pro-level coaches and world-class talent, the program offers student-athletes the opportunity to excel and reach their full potential.

The size and depth of IMG Academy’s tennis program features a dynamic and comprehensive atmosphere where individuals always have another player to challenge and enhance their game by incorporating varying levels of play styles. Student-athletes are trained daily to progress technically, tactically, physically, and mentally leading to over 62 junior tennis tournament wins in 2023 alone, 4 ITF Junior World #1s, and the placement of over 85 boys tennis student-athletes in college over the last five years, including more than 40 at Division I programs.

Boys Tennis Program

overview
athletic development
facilities
methodology
coaching staff

Overview

Program Structure

IMG Academy's tennis program offers comprehensive training that caters to individuals of all ages and skill levels, focusing on every aspect of the game, from laying a solid foundation to honing advanced technical strategies for competitive play. IMG Academy provides student-athletes with a setting that allows them to pursue their passions on and off the court, including in the classroom and through extracurricular avenues and social opportunities. From August through June, student-athletes will experience a curriculum and schedule that mirrors a collegiate atmosphere and provides year-round access to the resources and tools needed to conquer their goals.

Regardless of an individual’s age or experience level, IMG Academy’s tennis program features holistic training that develops every facet of the game, from a strong foundation to elite and technical strategy during competition. With structured and tangible plans in place throughout the week, student-athletes and coaches communicate regularly and build relationships that lead to unprecedented success. Student-athletes utilize video analysis to review key elements of their games as well.

Fundamental instruction and individualized on-court training in addition to internal Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) tournaments creates an ideal balance between instruction and competition. Technical and tactical elements remain the focus, along with footwork, conditioning, mental toughness, vision training, leadership, nutrition, and speed and agility training.

Tracking growth & success:

By creating a challenging environment that drives accountability, strength, and respect, IMG Academy continues to focus on making an impact on each individual to reach their full potential as both a student and an athlete. Within the program, student-athletes have a defined development track that includes:

  • Foundation
  • Developmental
  • Competitive
  • Junior elite
  • Professional

No matter if a student-athlete aspires to join a high-level D1 program, attend a university of the highest academic regard, or compete on the ATP and ITF tours, IMG Academy's program understands how to create a personalized pathway for every individual.

Home Away From Home: Hear directly from our families

Athletic Development

IMG Academy tennis student-athletes have access to proven performance training in areas like vision training, strength & conditioning, nutrition, and sports medicine. Athletic Development coaches and trainers integrate into the program's larger support system, ensuring that each student-athlete feels confident and prepared off the court as well.

Strength & Conditioning

IMG Academy’s Strength & Conditioning team designs a specific program that supplements tennis training to help student-athletes reach their potential.

  • Speed, agility, and movement
  • Endurance & Conditioning
  • Strength and power
  • Flexibility, mobility, balance, and core
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Sports Medicine

IMG Academy’s Sports Medicine program educates and helps student-athletes keep their bodies healthy during demanding training and competition schedules. Our team promotes athlete availability through preventative and corrective exercises, holistic injury evaluation & treatment, and movement quality assessments.

  • Athletic training
  • Physical therapy
  • Injured athlete program
  • Corrective exercise work
  • Recovery
  • Education on injury management
  • Return-to play management
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Nutrition

At IMG Academy, we understand how important it is for student-athletes to fuel their bodies to meet their high-level lifestyles and sports demands. Our Nutrition program maximizes student-athlete performance by equipping them with nutrition knowledge and resources to fuel and hydrate themselves for academics, athletics, and long-term health.

  • Optimal everyday nutrition
  • Performance Plate
  • Nutrient intake and timing
  • Hydration strategies
  • Supplement education
  • Pre and post-competition fueling
  • Travel nutrition
  • Energy balance
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Visual Training

Vision Training is not just about seeing – it’s about doing. Student-athletes will train their eyes to perform more quickly and efficiently through eye muscle and visual system development.

  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Peripheral vision
  • Reaction time
  • Depth perception
  • Vision strength
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Facilities

IMG Academy’s boys tennis program trains and competes on the following courts and facilities on campus:

  • 57 Tennis Courts (2 stadium courts, 29 Hard, 15 Green Clay, 4 Red Clay, 9 Indoors)
  • Tennis-specific building with coaches' offices and rooms to analyze practice and match videos and meet with coaches or advisors.
  • Covered turf facility for speed and agility training with specific coaches who focus on working with tennis players.
  • PlaySight streaming capabilities

Other Facilities

Explore our housing and amenities here

  • Dorms
  • Campus Center
  • Academic Center
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Annual Training Schedule

Student-athletes work with their coach to develop a tournament schedule that fits their level and needs, as each player's pathway to success varies. With the ability to outline the year dependent on initial skill level, ranking, and qualifying ability, if applicable, student-athletes feel comfortable entering each tournament with a structure and a plan.

Tournament schedules may include:

  • ITF Junior Entry Level, Advanced, and Pro level
  • CONTACT
  • USTA (local and national)
  • UTR
  • Junior Grand Slams
  • IMG Academy In-House Tournaments (see Competition tab)

Competition & Tournaments

Because of the high level of tennis available from one location on IMG Academy’s campus, including players from around the world, student-athletes are constantly challenged and can compete against different levels and styles at any time. Many of IMG Academy’s in-house tournaments last throughout the year or for several months and build camaraderie and culture around the program that's unique to IMG Academy.

In-House Competition

Because of the high level of tennis available from one location on IMG Academy’s campus, including players from around the world, student-athletes are constantly challenged and have the ability to compete against different levels and styles at any time. Many of IMG Academy’s in-house tournaments last throughout the year or for several months and build a camaraderie and culture around the program that's absolutely unique to IMG Academy.

UTR On-Campus Tournaments

Hosted 2-3 times/semester, Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) tournaments allow every student-athlete to play matches and build their UTR. With every student-athlete competing and earning a rating, the level of play and intensity grows with each round. Although formal tournaments occur as scheduled, match play during practice oftentimes is scored through the UTR system, allowing student-athletes an opportunity to improve their rating year-round. Format for the tournaments are as follows:

  • Draws based on UTR rating with an average of 16 players per draw
  • Compass Draws
  • Guaranteed 4 matches
  • College coaches visit regularly during play
utr on-campus tennis tournaments

Squad v. Squad Event

The Squad v Squad event is hosted once per semester and is one of our most fun filled events. It gives our student-athletes a chance to compete in a college-like atmosphere as all levels and groups combine into teams for a chance to be the overall winner. Each team has a dedicated team name and coach, who can also provide on-court coaching during play. College rules apply, and the energy during this tournament rivals the intensity in many college towns. Student-athletes gain experience in both singles and doubles while competing under pressure against any level while playing in an atmosphere where every point counts.

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Masters Tournament

This 5-day event, hosted annually at the end of the spring semester, builds off of the program’s prestigious tournament established years ago. With past winners including Maria Sharapova, Tommy Haas, and other top ITF, ATP and WTA players, student-athletes compete until the final day for a slot in the finals. Student-athletes look forward to this challenge every year, and the honor of being the Masters Tournament champion holds true for the remainder of the year. Tournament details include:

  • French-style draw, with lower ratings competing first and higher ratings entering in later rounds
  • One boys draw and one girls draw, for two total winners and the ultimate showcase of international talent
  • Trophies awarded at the end-of-year banquet with the entire program
masters tennis tournament

Continental Cup

A high-intensity yet fun event, the Continental Cup produces an annual evening showcase where teams are formed based on continents and compete against each other in a four-day, round robin tournament. The Laver Cup-like atmosphere produces top performances. Student-athletes and their respective team and coach compete through two boys singles, one girls singles, doubles, and a mixed doubles matches. The entire campus is welcome to cheer on their continent of choice which builds a unique, inspirational energy. Student-athletes under 14 participate in the Junior Continental Cup, which offers them the opportunity to compete in their own event and aspire to play in the main tournament.

continental cup tennis tournament

Eddie Herr Wild Card Tournament

Prior to the Eddie Herr Championships, this on-campus wild card event offers student-athletes a chance to play for a slot in their respective age division (BG12-18s) in the main event. Each draw's winner is guaranteed a wild card. This tournament is an opportunity to not only earn a spot in a world class event, but to also play in an intense atmosphere that counts towards the UTR system as well.

The Eddie Herr International Championships will be renamed to the IMG Academy International Tennis Championships beginning with the 2024 event.

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Tennis Director, Jimmy Arias

Jimmy Arias was one of the original tennis students at IMG Academy, then the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, when it opened in 1978. He turned pro at age 16, and within three years, reached the U.S. Open singles semifinals, won the 1981 French Open mixed doubles and claimed four professional singles titles. Arias reached a career-high of No. 5 in the world in 1984 at age 20. Since his retirement from the professional ranks, Arias has been involved in the game as both a coach and a commentator for ESPN, The Tennis Channel, Rogers Sportsnet and the Canadian Broadcasting Network.

Coach Title
Jimmy Arias Director of Tennis
Juan Herrera Director of Operations
Aggelos Venizelos Coach
Alejandro DeJesus Coach
Alexandra “Sasha” Pisareva Coach
Amar Vora Program Manager
Andrea Payne Coach
Andrey Cherkasov Coach
Aneudi Capellan Head Coach
Arnaud Petel Head Coach
Austin Lee Coach
Chad Oxedine Coach
Cole Schneider Coach
Constance Branstine Coach
David "Red" Ayme Head Coach
Dennis Pelegrin Head Coach
Eric Eichelbaum Head Coach
Filip Kraljevic Coach
Geoff Lance Coach
Hisashi Sato Head Coach/Tournament Director
Hristina Cvetokovic Coach
Jairo Aldana Student Athlete Advisor
Jakub Grzeslo Head Coach
James Bryce College Recruitment
Jane Johnson Coach
Joey Wymer Coach
Jorge Gonzalez Head Coach
Julio Zavala Camp Director
Karim Chaoqui Coach
Margie Zesinger Head of Female Tennis
Marko Puric Coach
Martin Alund Head of Pros
Martin Damm Coach
Micah Klousia Coach
Mihaela Murariu Tournament Travel Coordinator
Nicholas Park Head Coach
Nicola Manni Coach
Olivia Paradise Coach
Pat Dougherty Coach
Pete Van Lieshout Head Coach
Ramon Rincon Jimenez Coach
Ricardo Icaza Coach
Roger Blackburn Adult Coach
Ryuji Hirooka Coach
Silvia Fiumara Student Athlete Advisor
Tuan Anh Hoang Coach
Tumeka Harris Head of Adult Tennis
Wafik Bennacer Coach
Weylu Chang Head of Male Tennis
Xavier Pino Coach
Zoran Kolega Coach

Program Achievements

Some impressive highlights of the IMG Academy boys tennis program include:

32 Players have earned top-10 ATP World Tour Rankings

6 Boys Grand Slam singles champions

4 #1 ITF juniors in the past four years

13 Eddie Herr Boys singles champions

2019 Shinataro Mochizuki named Wimbledon Boy's Singles Champion

IMG Academy Trainee, Wu Yibing, becomes 1st Chinese male to win an ATP tour level title

Rei Sakamoto, 2024 Australian Open Junior Champion

View Our Stories

Take an inside look at IMG Academy student-athletes and their unique journeys on campus. While each student-athlete has a unique background and story, their shared passions and goals are clear as they strive together to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.


Reflecting on His Journey from China to IMG Academy to Princeton - Top Nidunjianzan

On the Rise - A Tennis Student-Athlete with Big Dreams - Jerry Shang

Tuition

IMG Academy boarding school is built for dedicated and passionate student-athletes. We provide the tools and resources for our student-athletes to achieve their goals in the classroom, in their sport, in college and beyond. IMG Academy tuition rates are based on the comprehensive nature of our programming and resources available to student-athletes.

2023-2024 full year tennis tuition ranges from $67,400-$89,900 depending on age and program enrollment.

Academics

Offering grades 6-12 as well as post-graduate options, IMG Academy provides tennis student-athletes with a robust academic curriculum, unmatched academic support, and resources that prepare them for the rigors of university life and beyond.

Personal Development

At IMG Academy, programs are tailored to develop the student as a whole, with a specific emphasis on performance training in key areas such as leadership, mental performance, vision training, nutrition, and sports medicine.

College Placement

It’s critical for tennis student-athletes to feel confident and equipped to find the best college fit. IMG Academy’s proven, industry-leading college placement services and technology have placed more student-athletes on college rosters than any other program in the world.

Campus Experience

Student-athletes are continuously motivated to surpass their own goals and aspirations at IMG Academy, while also being encouraged to explore their interests and hobbies. They acquire skills that are relevant to all aspects of life, in addition to excelling in academics and athletics. The campus environment fosters a sense of comfort and confidence in individuals, regardless of their age or background.

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IMG Academy Boarding School Application

IMG Academy is the world leader in sports education and the boarding school admits a limited amount of students annually from a large pool of qualified applicants, so we encourage interested student-athletes to submit an application as early as possible. Submit your online application to get started today.

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