Tennis Instruction Sergio Cruz

As a website onwer and teacher I often talk about tennis instruction, the game of tennis and all aspects of it and sure enough players need to know all the intricate elements of the how to hit a tennis ball and keep it inside those lines and for that they need:

The grips

The foot work

The tactics

The techniques

The volleys

The serves

The forehands

The backhands

The lobs

The drop shots

The fitness

The mental training

The diet

And much more...

In the course of the years I have learned not to be fooled by sporadic moments of enthusiasm from my pupils.

When I look at them deep into their eyes I look for more then the flickering flame of a candle that will die with the lightest blow of my breath.

My gaze searches for a flame more eternal, more powerful, more enduring, that no hurricane, torment or disaster will ever extinguish, passion!

Passion, that will drive those gangly bodies and legs to go to a tennis wall and hit tennis balls against it for hours, day after day, hot or cold, bright or dark, tired or not.

Passion, that will ask questions and will always want to know more, explore further, to discover the game.

Passion, that will drive you out of bed after a 3 months almost near death illness and makes you go to the tennis court first. Only to be disappointed because unfortunately your Doctor (who plays tennis) is there and shocked takes you immediately home in his car.

Passion, to run enough miles, facing wind, cold, rain, snow, to circle the earth several times over in the course of a career.

Passion, to exercise without complaint no matter how hard or how far you are pushing your body.

Passion, to go on the court minutes, hours, days, months, years without even noticing the time going by.

Passion, to travel the world many times over from tennis tournament to tennis tournament, seeking that elusive moment that is to hold the winners cup above your head.

Passion, with the certitude of nothing, no money, no glory, no benefits but to try to master the game.

When I see such eyes the twinkle of all stars in the universe plays in my eyes!

That is all I live for and that is why I write for you!

Sergio Cruz

Dipl. Tennis Teacher S.T.V. (Swiss Tennis), U.S.P.T.R. - U.S.P.T.A.

Nr. 1 Ranked Portugal 1978 - 1981

Davis Cup Player - Portugal 1970/1980

Kings Cup Player- Portugal 1978/1980

National Champion Portugal 1978 & 1980

Nr. 1 Ranked Portugal 1978 - 1981

Over 10 years International Tennis player (Davis Cup, Kings Cup, A.T.P.)

25 years experience as Coach, Teacher and Instructor.

1988/89/90 Trainer and Coach from Jim Courier, Ex-Nr. 1 ATP.

Besides Courier, through the years Sergio has given on court tennis instruction and training to players like; Pete Sampras, Cedric Pioline, Tim Mayotte, David Wheaton, Brad Gilbert, Mark Knowles, Bonnie Gaduzek, Julie Halard, Mary Pierce and many others.

Worked in cooperation with:

Mr. Harry Hopman (Coached Australia to 22 Davis Cup wins)

Nick Bollittieri

Dr. James Loehr ("Toughness for Tennis" and other books.) "Sergio Cruz, designed and lead the 6 month study on periodization for the competition Tennis player group at the NBTA 1987/88 which results and observations where acribicly noted by Yokito our assistant" Dr. James E. Loehr

Dr. Jeff Chandler (Sport Science Dr.)

Dr. Justino Esteves (Portugal Olympic Sports Medicine )

Dr. H. Krahl (Germany Olympic Sport Medicine Dr.)

Pat Echeberry (Movement and Speed specialist)

Between 1988, 89 and 90, under contract with IMG/NBTA, Sergio was FULLY responsible for all areas of Jim Couriers development - tennis, physical, mental training and ATP coaching.

Mind you, Sergio is not what you can call a fan or a bag carrier type Coach and he was not a push over as a tennis player either! Sergio, played more than 400 International Open prize money and ATP tournaments, with wins over many World class players (just to name a few):

- José Moreno Nr. 4 Spain 1976. (who among others beat John Newcombe N#1 ATP 1971)

- Alexandro Pierola Nr. 4 Chile 1977. (took Björn Borg to a 6/7 5/7 in Barcelona)

- Marko Ostoja N#2 Yugoslavia 1980. (Extended Stefan Edberg Nr. 1 ATP to a 6-3 6-7 6-3 in Basel 1984)

- Aktar Ali Nr. 2 India 1972, (with wins over the Armitraj brothers Vijay Nr. 7 ATP singles and Anand Nr. 1 ATP Doubles, as well as over Ramanathan Krishnan the best Indian player of all time with wins over players such as Rod Laver.)

- Bernard Boileau Nr. 1 Belgium 1980 (who later on beat Andrés Gomez, future winner of Roland Garros 1990)

This is not just another list of players – THIS PROVES SERGIO CAN PLAY and the tennis instruction he will give you is world class.

Sergio speaks fluently:

Englisch, French, Spanisch, Portuguese, good German and some Italian

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