Matthew Saunders - Tennis Coach

Testimonial

I am very happy to recommend Coach Matthew Saunders as a coach for high-performance junior tennis players. Having had the opportunity to see him work with our daughter and other young aspiring athletes, I have been particularly impressed not only by his knowledge of the game, but by the way he connects with players and brings out the best in them. Coach Matthew Saunders has an impressive tennis background, including playing university tennis and competing on the European Junior Circuit. His experience as a competitive player gives him a strong technical understanding of the game and a genuine appreciation for the commitment and discipline required to compete at a high level. However, what I believe makes him such a special coach is that he is able to take that knowledge and translate it into meaningful instruction for each individual player. He genuinely cares about the athletes he coaches. He has a wonderful ability to find the balance between pushing a player to work harder and encouraging them when they need confidence and support. He expects a lot from his players, but his players know that those expectations come from someone who believes in their potential. He creates an environment where players can be challenged without feeling discouraged, and where mistakes become opportunities to learn and improve. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to recognize that every player is different. His drills are creative, energetic, and purposeful, and he is constantly looking for ways to make them relevant to the player in front of him. He can adjust an exercise, change the level of challenge, or approach a skill from a different perspective depending on what a particular player needs. I have also been particularly impressed with his ability to coach players during matches. He can watch what is happening in real time, recognize patterns and areas for growth, and provide feedback that is both constructive and encouraging. Rather than simply telling a player what they did wrong, he helps them understand what they can do differently and gives them practical ways to make adjustments. His feedback builds confidence while helping players become more thoughtful and independent competitors. What stood out most to me and my daughter, however, is the way he makes young players feel. He is energetic, approachable, encouraging, and genuinely invested in their development—not just as tennis players, but as young people. He understands that competitive tennis can be challenging, and that confidence, resilience, and perseverance are just as important as technique. I believe Coach Matthew Saunders would be an incredible asset to any junior tennis program. He brings competitive experience, strong technical knowledge, creativity, energy, and, most importantly, a genuine passion for helping young athletes grow. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to any program looking for a coach who can challenge players to reach their potential while making them feel supported and believed in along the way.

Mrs Marin (Peformance Player Parent) / Washington DC