Hi From Female Tennis Coaches

Earlier this year, my monthly tennis newsletter TENNIS CLUB BUSINESS started featuring female tennis teaching pros from all over the world. Not an easy task because communicating with them is not always easy. I guess different time zones, hectic work schedules, and trust issues play a role. Many of the female pros I connect with on LinkedIn suspect that I'm trying to sell them something or scam them otherwise but nothing could be further from the truth. The tennis industry needs female coaches to grow and I just want to introduce our readers to some.

Meet Irumva Matutina from Kigali in Rwanda

Irumva writes, "Tennis has always been part of my life since 2015, I never have family members who played tennis before, it was just me. My parents didn't know about it but after I started, they supported me in every way they could. In 2017 there was a selection to work at the Rwanda Tennis Academy and I won the selection. I joined in 2017 until now and now I am one of the coaches in the Rwandan Tennis Academy and in the national team also. I'm in university now, I will be having my Advanced Diploma in civil engineering next year.

In 2019, I finished high school and I quit playing as a professional. I started my new career as a tennis coach and official but I put myself much into coaching especially training the kids and now I'm working in JTI ( junior tennis initiative). My main focus is on the development of young children (future professional players and coaches) and trying to get them to fall in love with tennis. My goal is to increase the number of girls in tennis?

I teach tennis because it is where I am most happy and I want to make an impact in kids' lives and their tennis game as tennis helped me. In my school, I was studying on a scholarship since 2017 until now and that helped me in my life. I hope I can be that person in developing a junior's career.

I was the national team coach since 2020? and my girls 16&under? won first place two times. I love what I do and I can't wait to continue coaching national teams or academies or at clubs all around the world. Thank you."

Link to the article with larger photos.

Meet Riza Zalameda from West Palm Beach, Florida

Riza writes, "Hello, I am Riza Zalameda, a former WTA top 70 world-ranked doubles pro, an 8-time All-American at UCLA and a two-time NCAA champion. I am based in West Palm Beach, FL, and travel to my clientele for tennis and pickleball lessons. I mainly host fun group tennis experiences, like “swinging socials” and destination tennis trips so that everyone can play no matter the occasion.

With over ten years of coaching experience and PTR and USPTA L2 certifications, I have worked with students of all ages and levels. My passion for coaching stems from the wide range of places I’ve lived and the experiences I’ve been lucky to have: from New York City, leading the women’s tennis team at Columbia University, to Necker Island in the Caribbean, curating lasting memories teaching Sir Richard Branson and his guests. I take great pleasure in seeing my students' sweaty smiles across the tennis court, and I believe in the power of tennis to bring friends and families together."

Link to the article with larger photos.

Meet Edna John from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Edna writes, "My name is Edna John from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, a tennis player and a coach. I started to play tennis when I was young, 6yrs old. I used to be on a national junior tennis team, but after I turned 18 I changed my career and stopped playing tennis because in our country there is no support for senior players.?

But I couldn't stay away long because I love tennis. After two years of no tennis, I came back and said let me start to teach people how to play tennis also. So I learned how to be a coach, and I think this is the best thing I've ever done.?

I really love my job and I especially love teaching kids. That's all ?? thanks."

Link to the article with larger photos