MAX THE TENNIS PRO BIO
Born in Acton, Massachusetts (30 miles outside Boston)
Max The Tennis Pro- Your Santa Monica Tennis Teacher for Santa Monica Tennis Lessons,
Venice Tennis Instruction and Kid’s Tennis Instruction
1984
Started playing tennis at 15 years old
Tried out and barely made the high school varsity team as a sophomore
Began playing USTA junior tournaments at 16
Played #1 varsity singles as a senior
1987
Took a semester off before college to train with my high school coach at home and at Nick Bolletieri’s Tennis Academy (Agassi,Courier,Seles) in Florida
1988
Attended University of North Carolina, Charlotte (division 1 tennis)
“Walked on” (no scholarship) the UNCC tennis team as the #12 player
Played up to #6 singles and #3 doubles as a first semester freshman
1989
UNCC - played #5 singles and #2 doubles
Garnered the most singles wins of the year and the MVP award
and, finally, a scholarship.
1990-1991
UNCC – moved up to play #1 and #2 singles and #1 and #2 doubles Jr and Sr Years
Graduated with a B.A in psychology and a minor in Creative writing - Poetry
1992
Traveled Portugal, Spain and France trying to qualify for Pro satellite tournaments (lowest level Pro tournaments)
1993
Traveled Israel, Portugal and Spain trying to qualify for Pro satellite tournaments
1994
Bought a van, threw a mattress in the back and traveled across the U.S. trying to qualify for the U.S. Pro satellite tournaments in Georgia, North/South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio and California
1995
Ran out of money on the last leg of the U.S. Pro Satellite circuit here in L.A.
Stayed and played SCTA men’s open money tournaments
Finished the year ranked #42 in Southern California
Coached by former Sampras, Chang practice partner, Mark Weidmann
1996
Ranked #33 in Southern California
1997
Teaching Tennis Pro at Tennis LA (formerly, The Tennis Place for the previous 20 years) on La Brea & 3rd in Hollywood instructing private Tennis lessons and junior clinic classes
1998
Continued Teaching Tennis Pro at Tennis Los Angeles and playing SCTA tournaments
Qualified for the Main Draw (finally!) of the Pro Satellite tournament in Palm Springs
1999
Qualified for the Main Draw of the Deerfield, CA Pro Satellite tournament
Tennis LA sold to a developer (The Grove people turned it to luxury condominiums)
With my clients from Tennis LA, Began teaching as an independent Tennis Pro in Santa Monica, Studio City and Hollywood
2000 Ranked #6 in Southern California
2003 Ranked #12 in Southern California and won the Manhattan Beach Open
2004 Ranked #24 in Southern California
2005 Ranked #27 in Southern California/US National ranking of #113
2006 Ranked #26 in Southern California/ US National ranking of #306
2008 Ranked #43 in Southern California
2009 Ranked #43 in Southern California
Beat the #6 player in Southern California in July, 2009 at the Manhattan Beach Open
2010 Ranked #43 in Southern California
2010 - 2020
21 years as an independent Santa Monica Tennis Teacher at the beautiful Ocean View tennis courts and at long time client private home courts.
Still playing the occasional Men’s Open Division tournament
Having to stretch a whole lot more than I used to
2020-Present Currently enjoying my 27th year as a Tennis Pro. After Covid shut down my Santa Monica OV teaching court for 6 weeks, I was fortunate enough find a super nice family in Brentwood/Bel-Air to lease me their beautiful home court and just as fortunate to have a wonderful group of clientele who were willing to follow me there. Thank You!