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Tennis Staff

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Jack Jensen
Jack has been a member of the Ladera Community since 2007. His passion for tennis started shortly after playing his first tennis match at the LRD at age 8. Jack was a Camp Counselor under Tony Simon, then director of tennis at the Ladera Summer Tennis Camp. In 2013 Jack and his family moved to Boston where he was a varsity starter at Lincoln-Salisbury High School. When he returned to California he was a varsity starter at Menlo-Atherton. At M-A Jack won the PAL doubles tournament for the Bears and contributed to M-A’s 3-year undefeated streak in league matches. Jack attended the University of Oregon where earned a spot on Oregon’s Club Tennis Team. He earned a BS in General Social Sciences focusing on Business/Economics, minoring in Sports Business and Journalism.  During school breaks Jack would frequently return home to coach at the LRD through Pure Pace Tennis Academy. In his free time Jack enjoys spending time with friends, his parents and brothers, and watching a multitude of professional sports - in addition to religiously following the men’s and women’s professional tennis circuit.

Jack brings high energy and centers his coaching style around positivity and adaptability. “It is my responsibility to share my love and connection for the greatest game ever invented to the younger generation. Every day on court is an absolute blessing and it will be my mission to inspire the same passion in my students that I felt when I first picked up a racket.” He enjoys studying the science behind the game of tennis and actively incorporates what he learns into every lesson. In 2020, Jack became a USPTA Certified Instructor.

 

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Yoav Saarony
Yoav has over 30 years of experience teaching tennis, and high-performance player development. He has developed his own comprehensive positive coaching system designed to improve skills at every level of the game. “Coaching isn’t what I do, it’s who I am…”

Yoav has coached professional players competing in Master 1000’s and major tournaments, including all four Grand Slams (US Open, French Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon), as well as elite Junior tournaments. He has personally coached multiple D1 and All-American Players.  “Positivity remains the main channel for reaching your full potential…”

Yoav played  D1 Tennis at Rider University and earned a BA in Communications. “Over the years within myself and being myself I have been able to define my coaching objectives. My deep focus has been on establishing real and nurturing relationships with my players. I have been a life-long student of the game and will continue to learn as much as I am able about all areas of player development…”

Experience

  • PTR Professional
  • Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open
  • ATP Masters 1000
  • ATP 250
  • WTA
  • ATP challenger Tour
  • ITF Tour (Men and Women’s)
  • ITF Boys and Girls Grades 1-4 /Grand slams
  • USTA National Championships (Boys and Girls)
  • USTA Supernationals
  • USTA Nationals
  • USTA Sectionals
  • High Performance Coach

 

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Christian Ducray

Hello there! I'm Coach Christian Ducray, a PTR Certified coach with seven years of experience in the world of tennis. I've had the privilege of working with various organizations and teams, helping individuals of all ages and skill levels excel in the sport they love.

Prior to joining the Plus 1 Tennis Academy, I had the opportunity to lead the Junior Tennis Program at the Southern Highlands Country Club in Las Vegas. It was an honor to be part of the team that was recognized as the Facility of the Year by USTA Nevada. In 2023, I was also humbled to receive the Employee of the Year award at SOHI.

Before the SOHI Tennis Club, I served as the Head Coach of the Argonaut High School Tennis Team. Under my leadership, the team achieved great success by winning two league championships. I also had the privilege of being the Director at the Amador Tennis Club's Junior Tennis League, where I was able to foster a love for tennis among young players.

One of my greatest passions is running a Community-Based Tennis Program. Through this program, I aim to make tennis accessible to individuals from all walks of life, promoting inclusivity and a love for the sport within the community.

When it comes to coaching tennis, what I truly love is witnessing the growth and development of my players. Seeing them overcome challenges, unlock their potential, and achieve their goals brings me immense joy and fulfillment. It's a privilege to be part of their journey and to help them cultivate not only their tennis skills but also their character and confidence.

Experience:

- Head Tennis Professional, Southern Highlands Country Club

- Junior Tennis Coordinator

- Head Coach, High School Tennis

- Assistant Coach, High School Tennis

- Owner of a Community-Based Tennis Program

- Junior Team Tennis League Director

- Lead Coach, Junior Team Tennis