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I fell in love with tennis the first time I held a racquet and never looked back. I was India’s No.1 for eight years, played Davis Cup, ranked Asia No.1 U14, ITF 115, and ATP around 700. I became a four-time All-American in college, earning Player of the Year and Most Improved Senior awards.
Financial challenges ended my playing career, but not my passion. I shifted to coaching, training players ages 4–80 at all levels, developing elite juniors who won state titles, represented their state, advanced to college tennis, and organizing high-level adult clinics, tournaments, and fun events.
Qualifications
EDUCATION
Xavier University of Louisiana — New Orleans, LA
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Minor in Art | Jan 2018 – Dec 2021
- Full-Ride Athletic Scholarship (2018–2021)
- Athletic Scholar Award (2018–2022)
- Dean’s List (2020–2021)
- Honor Roll (2018–2020)
Certifications
- PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) Certified
- PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) Certified
Coaching times & fees
- Please contact Shaikh direct for more information on his availability and salary requirements
- He can be contacted via WhatsApp and / or Email
- WhatsApp: +15045967333
- Email: shaikhabdullah1234@gmail.com
Further information
AWARDS & HONORS
- Employee of the Year (2025) — Chapel Hill Country Club
- Ranked No. 3 in the United States (Doubles) and Top 10 (Singles)
- ITA Senior Player of the Year (2022)
- ITA Most Improved Player of the Year (2022)
- NAIA All-American (2018–2022, four consecutive years)
- NAIA Rookie of the Year (2018)
- NAIA National Championship Semifinalist (2018); Runner-up (2019)
- HBCU National Champion (Team) — 2× Doubles Individual Champion
- Unbeaten in singles and only two doubles losses at NAIA Nationals over four years
- GCAC Player of the Week — multiple times
About Me
My name is Shaikh Abdullah, and I have been playing tennis since the age of seven. What began as a childhood passion quickly became a lifelong commitment, and I have never looked back. I was ranked No. 1 in India for eight consecutive years across the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U categories, and also achieved a Top 10 ranking in the Men’s division. In Asia, I was ranked No. 1 in the 14U and 16U categories. Internationally, I reached a career-high ranking of 115 in the world in ITF Juniors and 700 ATP.
I proudly represented India around the world, including at the Davis Cup in the 16U and 18U categories. One of the most memorable wins of my career came against Cameron Norrie, now a Top 15 ATP player. During my junior career, I also competed against players such as Nick Kyrgios, Hyeon Chung, and Andrey Rublev.
In 2018, I moved to the United States on a full athletic scholarship to Xavier University of Louisiana, where I competed for four years. I was named Rookie of the Year in my freshman season and went on to earn multiple honors, including NAIA Player of the Year, as well as several Player of the Week and Player of the Month awards. I won the HBCU National Championship twice, was a two-time Regional Champion, and remained unbeaten in singles at the NAIA National Championship for four consecutive years. I finished my senior season with a 24–4 singles record and 25–5 in doubles, earning ITA Most Improved Senior of the Year and All-American honors three years in a row.
My coaching journey began at the age of 16. Due to financial challenges and the loss of my mother, my professional playing career came to an end, but my passion for tennis did not. I chose to give back to the sport through coaching and have now been teaching for over 14 years. I have worked with players of all ages and levels—from beginners at the red ball stage to high-performance juniors preparing for college tennis, as well as adults up to 83 years old. Among my many professional achievements, I was recently honored as “Employee of the Year” at a club with over 1,000 employees.
I am now ready to take the next step in my coaching career, continuing my journey of connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, sharing my knowledge, and bringing purpose, confidence, and joy into their lives through tennis.
PLAYING CAREER & RANKINGS
- ATP Singles Ranking: No. 700
- ITF Junior Ranking: No. 115
- 9× ITF Junior Singles Champion
- 12× ITF Junior Doubles Champion
- Winner of multiple national and international tournaments worldwide
- Ranked No. 1 nationally in India (U10, U12, U14, U16, U18)
- Ranked Top 10 nationally (India) in Men’s
- Ranked No. 1 in Asia (Juniors)
- Represented India in Davis Cup U16 & U18
Experience
Chapel Hill Country Club, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Tennis Professional | Jan 2024 – Present
- Join at the start of the USTA league season and lead two teams to State Championship appearances in both Spring and Fall; one team wins the State Championship in 2025.
- Organize and coach daily singles and doubles strategy clinics for men’s and women’s USTA teams from 2.5–5.0 levels.
- Started and grew cardio tennis clinics, increasing attendance by 75%.
- Help organize summer camps and high-performance junior camps, delivering daily clinics for juniors ages 4 and up.
- Introduce innovative programming and events to increase member and family engagement.
- Organize tennis and pickleball events including Eat, Dink, and Repeat, Wimbledon Day, Water Day, and Family Doubles Tournaments.
- Run weekly high-level clinics for advanced USTA 4.0–5.0 teams.
- Assist maintenance staff with court grooming and preparation.
- Maintain strong, respectful relationships with club members and staff.
Chateau Golf & Country Club, Kenner, LA, USA
Tennis Professional | Jan 2022 – Dec 2023
- Organize and coach group clinics and private lessons for high-performance juniors ages 4–18, from beginner to tournament level.
- Coach multiple juniors who reached Top 5 rankings in the state of Louisiana and won multiple tournaments.
- Manage club operations in the absence of the Director of Tennis.
- Teach private lessons and clinics for all adult USTA levels.
- Direct and organize UTR and USTA tournaments, including a USTA Level 3 State Championship.
- Maintain the pro shop, including racquet stringing and gripping.
- Travel with players to tournaments to analyze performance and create development plans.
- Communicate professionally with members, parents, and non-members.
Private Tennis Instructor, Kenner, LA, USA
Owner / Instructor | Aug 2020 – Present
- Organize and schedule private and group lessons for players ages 7–50.
- Design and execute personalized lesson plans, drills, and fitness programs.
- Provide instruction in technique, strategy, and match play.
- Evaluate player progress and deliver constructive feedback.
- Maintain a safe, positive, and motivating learning environment.
Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, USA
College Tennis Athlete | Feb 2018 – Dec 2021
- Accepted on a Full-Ride Tennis Scholarship
- ITA/NAIA All-American (3×)
- Region IV Rookie of the Year
- GCAC Player of the Week (3×)
- Most Improved Senior of the Year(2021)
Roster: https://xulagold.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/shaikh-abdullah/3426
InterCity Tennis Project, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Head Tennis Professional (Seasonal) | Summer 2020 & 2021
- Serve as Head Professional for summer camps with 40–50 juniors ages 6–18.
- Organize daily drills, fitness, and match play sessions.
- Develop players technically, physically, and mentally
- Communicate regularly with parents regarding progress and concerns.
- Assist with court and facility maintenance.
Additional Coaching Experience
Summer Tennis Camp — Cape Cod, MA, USA | Tennis Professional (2019)
University of New Orleans — New Orleans, LA, USA | Tennis Professional (2018)
Sania Mirza Tennis Academy — Hyderabad, India | Tennis Professional (2016–2018)
- Sparring partner for Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, Somdev Devvarman, Cara Black, and Yuki Bhambri.
- Manage elite junior development and individualized fitness programs.
- This role involved specific and appropriate drilling and practice regiments during on-court play, creating and monitoring individualized fitness programs.
Testimonial
Coach Abdullah coached my kids last summer, and both my daughter and my son really enjoyed the experience. What I especially appreciated was his respectful attitude toward the kids it was truly wonderful. His ability to identify their weaknesses and find effective ways to help them improve was excellent. The kids and I enjoyed every moment spent playing and training with him, and I would happily recommend him as a great coach.
Mohammed Al Hajery (Kuwaiti Client)
