As a player
I started playing at 7 years old, winning the first tournament I entered at 8. I went on to compete at the top level nationally in juniors. At 12 years old, I reached #1 in USTA Florida and top 20 in the USA. I started competing nationally and because of my potential stopped playing baseball, soccer, and basketball at this point. When I was 14 years old, I was #1 in Florida and #2 in USA. At this point I was representing Florida in all national competitions and team matches. I started playing International competitions as well, never leaving Continental USA. At 16 years old I won the USTA Florida State Championship, I was #1 in Florida and #4 in USA. At 17 years old I competed amongst the best players internationally. I had tight losses to players such as Sam Querrey and Donald Young in junior competition. One of my greatest accomplishments was playing Kalamazoo all 4 years. This is the single most prestigious junior tournament in USA. In 2005 when I was 17, I led Miami Killian High School to a State Championship in FHSAA competition at the #1 singles and #1 doubles positions, respectively. In the 18 and under division I reached #1 in Florida and #8 nationally. I won three ITF junior doubles titles, each with different partners. I was a top 10 recruited player by colleges in the USA. Throughout my junior career I beat many top players who went on to play professionally. In 2014 there were 6 men in the main draw of US Open whom I had beaten in junior tennis. I was recruited heavily by the top programs in the nation. Amongst my top 5 visits were University of Virginia, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of Illinois, and Florida State University. I received a full scholarship and signed my commitment to FSU. I went on to play some futures level professional tournaments as well as other prize money events. I still love playing Pro-Am and other competitive events to keep the juices flowing, although the majority of my tennis time is now spent teaching as I have a passion to pay it forward.
As a coach
I began coaching before college with Don Petrine Jr. at Royal Palm Tennis Club. While in school at FSU I also coached in the summer camp there for a couple years. When returning to Miami, I worked clinics, summer camp and private lessons under Don Petrine Jr. in his program at Royal Palm from 2005-2008. I worked with Julie Steven from 2008-2009 developing elite junior competitors. We worked with many of the top players in Miami who were also competing at the top level nationally. In 2009 we took a group of players to the USTA Florida State Championship. I stayed with Gonzales Austin Jr. as Julie returned to Miami with the rest of the group whom had lost. At 16 years old Gonzales Austin Jr. won the 18 an under State Championship, beating then #2 in USA Connor Smith. Coaching him to a State Championship is one of the highlights to my young coaching career. Gonzales is competing as one of the top college players nationally in 2015. From 2014-2015 I coached with Liz Levinson and Don Petrine at Tennis305. From 2015 to present, I have worked with Chow Tennis Academy. As a whole, these professionals and I have developed many of the top players in Florida. I'm currently on staff at Ocean Reef Club as the assistant tennis pro. Between all my coaching experience I have helped a number of players grow to earn Division 1 college scholarships and compete as professionals. I have also been fortunate enough to be a hitting partner for some of the best players nationally and top professionals on the ATP and WTA tours. I trained Naomi Osaka, 2018 US Open champion, back in 2012 when she was a rising player who nobody had yet heard of. In December 2012, I trained with Venus Williams during her preparation for the Australian Open. In the Spring of 2013 I trained with Grigor Dimitrov the week prior to his Sony Open competition in Miami.