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MEET THE PROS
ProForm is privileged to offer the expertise of former ATP Tour pros that have acquired their unparalleled knowledge of the game by competing in ATP Tour events worldwide.
GENERAL MANAGER
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DENYS MAASDORP (South Africa)
dmaasdorp@proformtennis.com
Denys played professionally from 1982 to 1989 on the ATP Tour and from 1987 to 1998 in the German professional club league, a playing career spanning 17 years. He reached a career high ATP World Ranking of #180 in singles and #129 in doubles, winning numerous singles and doubles titles in ATP Future and Challenger events worldwide. Denys has coaching experience at all levels, working with pros on the ATP Tour, top juniors on the ITF World Tour and amateurs at a club level while Director at Kings Highway Club in Darien, CT. Denys also has a Masters degree in business from Boston University.
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MANAGER
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GREGORY STOFFER (USA)
info@proformtennis.com
Greg is a New York native who spent 8 years as the General Manager of the Westchester Indoor Tennis Club. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing all of the daily club operations, which included insuring overall customer satisfaction for the club’s 1000 members and maintaining junior and adult programs of over 350 students.
Greg has 7 years of racquet stringing experience and was in charge of all pro shop racquet sales and stringing for the club.
Greg is also a USPTA certified Developmental Coach with 7 years experience coaching players of all levels with an emphasis on early stage and intermediate players. He is a graduate of nearby SUNY Purchase College and joined Proform Tennis in February 2008.
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DIRECTOR OF TENNIS
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NIC SABBATINI (Argentina)
nsabbatini@proformtennis.com
Nick was most recently Head Coach of Player Development at the Chris Evert Tennis Academy, and Director of Tennis at Armonk Indoor Sports Center. He brings with him a wealth of experience, coaching new players, high school prospects, and world ranking junior and professional tour competitors. Nick was a top nationally ranked junior player in Argentina and a 3-time National College Championship runner-up representing Auburn University at Montgomery.
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HEAD PRO
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JAY GOODING (Australia)
gooding@proformtennis.com
Jay turned pro in 1996 and retired in January 2004. He finished the 2003 year race standing at #263 (but was as high as #163). His highest doubles ranking was #380. Jay qualified for the ATP Scottsdale Tour event in 2003 losing to James Blake in the first round. He also won numerous singles and doubles titles throughout the world playing in ATP Future and Challenger events, and competed in the 2000 Australian Open Qualifying. A certified Level Two Coach (ATPCA), Jay was coach to the winner of the Junior Grand Slam Doubles Tournament at the 2004 US Open.
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HEAD PRO
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CLIVE ULLYETT (South Africa)
As a player, Clive was an All-American at the University of South Alabama (USA) and achieved a #1 NCAA division 1 doubles ranking. After competing in NCAA Division 1 tennis for USA, Clive played on the pro circuit for 2 ' years and was assistant coach for the USA men's & women's teams. Clive has worked with nationally ranked collegiate and junior players and previously coached at the Shippan Racquet Club in Stamford. Clive also holds an MBA and International Business Marketing degree from USA.
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HEAD PRO
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GWINYAI ZENGENI (Zimbabwe)
Gwinyai Zengeni comes to us from Shippan Racquet Club where he was a tennis professional and Director of Summer Programs. Gwinyai is USPTA certified and holds an MBA and BBA from Morehead State University (MSN) in KY. As a tennis player, he had an ITF Junior World Ranking. After competing in NCAA Division 1 tennis for MSN, Gwinyai was an assistant coach for the MSN men's and women's teams. He has coached and worked with ATP and WTA players and coaches nationally ranked collegiate and junior players. Gwinyai is also on the Adidas Advisory staff.
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TEACHING PRO
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MIKE SOWTER (Australia)
Mike, a native of Perth, Australia, currently serves as the Head Men's & Women's Tennis Coach at Hofstra University. Mike has worked at various clubs, schools, and camps throughout the United States, most recently as Head Professional at Satellite Tennis Academy and Director of Tennis at Camp Vega in Kent Hill, ME. An accomplished junior player in Australia, Michael earned NJCAA All-America honors while playing at Wallace State College in Alabama before finishing his honors while playing at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. At Marist, Mike garnered all-MAAC accolades in 2001 and 2002 and made two appearances in the NCAA National Championships.
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TEACHING PRO
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RISHAN KURUPPU (Canada)
Rishan comes to us from Vancouver, Canada. As a player Rishan played Division 1 tennis at Middle Tennessee State University where he helped the team to the NCAA tournament and top 25 national ranking. As a junior Rishan was ranked top 5 in Canada throughout his junior career and was also a National Doubles Champion. He has also posted wins over ATP players Frank Dancevic, Jaun Pablo Decesare, Sanjin Sadovich. Prior to joining Proform Tennis Rishan was a Pro at the Lake Club in New Canaan for 2 years and most recently one of the head Pro's at Performance Elite Tennis Academy in Nashville, TN. During that time he worked with numerous state and nationally ranked juniors. Rishan is USPTA certified and holds a B.B.A. in finance.
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TEACHING PRO
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MARK JOHNSON (Great Britain)
Was born in Llantwitt Fadre, Wales. Began playing tennis aged 10 and was part of the Welsh national tennis team under 12,14,16 and 18. Was runner up at the Welsh nationals under 18. Moved to Spain at aged 16 to train at the Andres Gimeno tennis academy in Barcelona and trained there for 1 year and later moved to Marbella, Spain to train with Andres and Daniel Marco. Played on the Satellite and Future circuit throughout Europe for 2 1/2 years. After playing in Spain, moved to play college tennis in Hawaii, at Hawaii Pacific University in Waikiki. Helped team to finish runners up at nationals in Pensacola Florida. Finished out playing college tennis at the University of Central Oklahoma and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Coached for one year as assistant to the junior development program at Quail Creek Country Club in Oklahoma City.
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TEACHING PRO
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ALICIA PILLAY (South Africa)
Alicia comes to us from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. At the age of 15 Alicia won The Inaugural South African Slazenger Senior Women's Open. In the same year she reigned as S.A's #1 u/16 singles champion. In 1996 she was crowned The Junior All African Singles u/16 & u/18 Doubles Champion in Cairo Egypt. In 95/96 she also represented S.A at The World Youth Cup in Essen Germany and Davos Switzerland. The cherry on the top was her inclusion in the ITF Elite Touring Team, while on tour she won the German Open (97/98), and the Swiss Open in 1998. Alicia then contested in the Major Junior Grandslams, Wimbledon (quarter finals of doubles), Australian Open, French Open and the US Open. As a 16 year old on the ITF rankings she was 69- Singles and 15- Doubles. A year later Alicia and mixed doubles partner Wesley Whitehouse won The Junior Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia. She also received the S.A Junior Sports Woman of the Year Award. Alicia was an All American at The University of Tulsa where she played #1. She not only competed in the NCAA Championships, but also won the Women's Central Region Singles Title, was named ITA Central Region Player to Watch, Regional ITA Senior Player of the Year, TU Women's Tennis Player of the Year, TU Ultimate Team. Alicia reached a ranking high of 8th in The Nation NCAA Div.1. Her tennis was complimented by her graduating with a BSC Degree in Exercise Sports Science and a minor in Marketing (Cum Laude). As a Pro Alicia won several singles and doubles titles ($10,000-$25,000). Won Gold at the All African Games, nominated for the S.A Olympic Team (Athens Greece). Represented South Africa in the Women's Fed Cup from 1999-2006, played #1 in 2006. Alicia's WTA ranking in 2006 was singles 540 and doubles 407, with a high of 290. Alicia was Gstar of the month (May 2007) for a S.A magazine called Gsport. Other leading ladies included Amanda Coetzer. As a coach Alicia holds a certification from the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). |
TEACHING PRO
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BRUNO PUZZI (Brazil)
Bruno, a native son of Santos, Brazil, truly excelled as a young player in his home country. From a very early age, Bruno won countless regional and national accolades in Brazil and South America including three titles on the Circuit COSAT with victories over Fernando Gonzales, Guillermo Coria, and Nicholas Massu. Bruno also won two Banana Bowl doubles titles (the Banana Bowl is deemed one of the best of the prestigious ITF World Junior competitions). Bruno was ultimately ranked in the Top 5 players in Brazil between the ages of 12 and 18. Coming to the US in 1997, Bruno attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL). With Bruno's help, UL mens team was ranked among the Top 16 teams in the US in 1998. Bruno was also the 1999-00 Mens NCAA Division I Tennis Singles Conference Champion. In 2001, Bruno placed second in Tulane University's Individual Fall Tournament. Since leaving university, Bruno has held a number of important coaching and instructing roles. In 2004, working at that time along side ProForm's own Nick Sabbatini, Bruno was an assistant teaching pro and summer camp tennis instructor at Armonk Indoor. Returning to his home country to be closer to his family after almost 6 years in the US, Bruno served as Head Pro and Director of Tennis Operations at the beautiful Centro de excelÍncia de TÍnis (CET) which is located in the northern Brazilian city of San Luis. From 2006 to 2007, Bruno was the Mens Tennis Coordinator for his college alma mater. Immediately prior to joining the ProForm team, Bruno was Assistant Head Pro for the summer and winter 2007/2008 at Armonk Indoor. Bruno has coached Bethany Matteck who was ranked in the Top 120 in the world. Bruno graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2004 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree.
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TEACHING PRO
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MARCUS SUNDH (Sweden)
Marcus was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Played high school tennis together with Robin Soderling at a government sponsored tennis program. As a junior, was the runner up in the Swedish doubles championships, and semi finalist in singles. Played numerous ITF World Junior tournaments throughout the world, winning the doubles title in Estonia, reached the finals in Finland, and beat the 13th ranked player on the ITF World Junior Rankings, Dudi Sela of Israel. Played club team tennis together with Thomas Enqvist, Magnus Norman, Joachim Johansson, etc. After high school, played numerous ATP Tour Mens Future events for two years in Europe. Played division 1 college tennis at the University of Kentucky where he was the team captain his Junior and Senior years. Whilst at the University of Kentucky, Marcus taught at the Nantucket Yacht Club in the summers. |
TEACHING PRO
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MARTINA ONDREJKOVA (Slovakia)
Martina is from Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. Representing the University of South Alabama, she won the NCAA Div. 1 National Championships Title in doubles and was ranked #1 in the nation with her teammate Iva Puflerova. She was an All-American for three consecutive years. At South Alabama, she was a recipient of the President's Award given to the best athlete of the year and a recipient of the Wilma Rudolf's Award given to the best female athlete of the year. After completing her degree in Marketing, Martina worked as a Tennis Professional at the New Canaan Racquet Club. In the summer months, she worked at the New Canaan Field Club and the Roxbury Swim and Tennis Club. Currently she is a Head Tennis Pro at the Hampshire Country Club in Mamaroneck. |
TEACHING PRO
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TIM KUTSCHERA (USA)
Tim is originally from Chicago, Illinois where he began his tennis career as a junior. He was a top ranked junior in Chicago and ranked in the top 20 in the Western Section. He later lived in Florida and was ranked 18 in the Men's Division and began playing on the tour. After 2 years of playing ATP Tour Mens Future events, Tim went to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in 2001 and played 4 years of tennis there. His Freshman year he was recognized as First Team All Conference Doubles with his partner Jason Ontong and he was awarded All Conference Singles his Junior year. He graduated with a degree in Business General Management in 2005. Tim was a teaching pro at Lookout Mountain Racket Club in Lookout Mountain, GA and was the head coach for Chattanooga Christian High School. He previously worked as the Assistant Head Pro at Club Veveysan in Vevey, Switzerland where he worked with some of the top Swiss juniors ages 10-14 and played Swiss club league tennis as well. Tim was recently working as a teaching pro in Rye, NY at the Coveleigh Club this summer before joining the team at ProForm. |
TEACHING PRO
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STEVE BRANDI (USA)
Steve grew up playing tennis in Florida where he was taught by his father Joe Brandi, who is a coaching legend having coached none other than Pete Sampras to his first US Open title in 1990.
Steve played High School tennis in Florida where he played #1 for 3 years before joining his sister Kristina Brandi on the WTA Tour as a hitting partner and travelling coach. Under Steve’s guidance, Kristina achieved a career high WTA world ranking of # 27, winning the WTA Tour title in S’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands in 1999 and reaching the 4th round of Wimbledon and the US Open.
She also posted wins over world Top Ten players Jelena Jankovic, Amanda Coetzer, Anastasia Myskina, Conchita Martinez and Jelena Dokic.
Steve has been with Proform Tennis since the Summer of 2007. |
TOURING PROS
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