Amy is the CEO of Agape Tennis Academy, which currently manages public tennis centers in Fountain Valley, California, Oxnard, California, and Atlanta, Georgia. The organization provides programming to over 15,000 tennis and pickleball players annually. She currently manages a staff of over 125 tennis and pickleball coaches, administrative professionals, and business managers. Agape’s management style, processes, and systemized to approach allows the organization to continue to scale.

Amy is certified by the USTA in Sports Science and High-Performance Player Development. She is certified in Tennis by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), Pickleball by the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR), and platform tennis by the Professional Platform Tennis Registry (PPTR).

Amy is a coach, author, change expert and serial entrepreneur. Her personal and professional transformation systems show us how to infuse entrepreneurship with purpose, passion, and perseverance to create businesses that are bigger than the bottom line and positively impact communities.

Agape Tennis Academy at DeKalb Tennis Center was awarded Best of Decatur (2019-2023) for the fourth consecutive year in 2023, earning a spot in the Business Hall of Fame. In 2022, Amy and Agape received the City of Fountain Valley’s Kindness Award, an honor that recognizes Agape’s commitment to H.E.A.R.T.. Also in 2022, Agape Tennis Academy was selected as the Best Public Facilty by the Professional Pickleball Registry at the company’s annual conference, where Amy was also a featured speaker.

In 2021, Agape and Amy were recognized by the United States Congress, the California Legislature Assembly, and the County of Orange as one of Fountain Valley’s finest leaders, in recognition of her small business’ contributions to the U.S. economy. Most recently in Georgia in 2020 and 2021, Agape Tennis Academy received the Best of Decatur Award. This award is given to local companies in different categories that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

In 2019, Amy was honored as the PTR Georgia Member of the Year and Tennis Media Group named Agape Tennis Academy Organization of the Year. Agape Tennis Academy was selected as the GPTA’s (Georgia Professional Tennis Association) Program of the Year in 2018. In 2017, Amy was voted Tennis Director of the Year and Agape Tennis Academy was named 10 and Under Program of the Year by the GPTA. In 2016, Agape Tennis Academy was voted Community Outreach Program of the Year by the GPTA.

Amy currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia and in San Clemente, California with her two cats Zuki and Paix. She enjoys traveling, reading, business, living life to the fullest, all things outdoors, tennis, pickleball, golf, hiking, biking, surfing, and being in the ocean.

Annie Freeman brings an interesting decades-old mix of tennis experience and hospitality to her role as Chief Operating Officer for Agape Tennis Academy. She started playing tennis at the age of seven and has continued playing ever since. Annie was the captain of her Marist School team that won the National Championship for Tennis.

After studying engineering at Marquette University, for more than 25 years she combined her work as a popular sports bar employee with managing, merchandising and systems for Serious Tennis and Berkeley Hills Country Club. In addition to her challenging work with the expanding Agape Tennis Academy, Annie and her husband also help homeowners clear their houses of clutter and organize estate sales. They now live in Duluth with their daughter, Maddux, and fur baby, Lilly.

Coach Ning has over a decade of coaching experience with adults at the beginner, intermediate, and league team levels, specializing in doubles strategy. She works with junior players from ages 4-18.

Originally from Thailand, Ning has played competitive tennis since she was 9. She was an award-winning junior player, ranked Top 5 of her age group in Thai ranking and Top 400 by the ITF. At age 13, she won 3 consecutive ITF doubles titles. Ning won several other ITF titles over the next 5 years. Her award-winning performance continued at the college level at Brenau University, including multiple AAC Conference Awards from 2018 to 2020. ITA National Best Rank in singles #15 and doubles #7.

Ning earned multiple awards for her off-the-court talents, including the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. She was granted the Champion of Character and All-Academic Team every year at Brenau.

Coach Daneric was born and raised in the Fiji Islands. As a successful junior tennis player, Daneric travelled to the United States on athletic scholarships and attended New Mexico Military Institute and Carthage College. During his undergrad he qualified for Nationals and achieved All- American honors while setting program single season records for both singles and doubles. After a decorated playing career and earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Daneric returned to be Head Coach of New Mexico Military Institute. He worked predominantly with the young men starting their college careers and trying to motivate them to use tennis as an opportunity to better themselves and to gain an education.

Daneric decided to further his own education by accepting a graduate assistant position for the women’s team at Henderson State University. After completing his masters in sports administration, Daneric pursued his coaching career at Midtown Athletic Club in Bannockburn, Illinois. At Midtown Athletic Club, he helped with the junior and adult programs teaching individual lessons, group lessons, cardio tennis and working with adult league teams. Daneric returned to Carthage College to be the Assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at gaining a second master’s in Educational Leadership.

During the summers, Daneric worked camps at both Carthage and Bannockburn. He discovered his joy for mentorship and a drive to help young people find confidence in themselves and in their abilities. In addition to teaching tennis, Daneric was selected to represent his country on numerous occasions and was a bronze medalist at 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea. He enjoys playing rugby, fishing, music, travelling and learning about different cultures. His passion for the sport has opened doors to education, travel and personal growth. Coach Daneric believes that through tennis you can find yourself and contribute to making the world a better place. The Agape team is so happy to have him, please welcome Coach Daneric.

Coach Anne Clarke is a Miami native with a multisport high school and collegiate athlete background. She was born with a ball in her hand coming from a family of professional athletes and coaches. Coach Anne played volleyball, softball, soccer and badminton in high school while playing USTA tennis tournaments and coaching at the local youth center. She went on to play NCAA division 1 softball and tennis in Florida.  

After injury derailed her college sports career, she focused on her media career. Coach Anne was a local newspaper editor, television producer and broadcaster in Florida. With her eye on marketing, she began a magazine publishing career.  She has published parenting and travel magazines and now is publishing city magazines in the Atlanta market.  

As the saying goes, she kept an ‘eye on the ball’ and gravitated back into sports. Since moving to Atlanta in 2003, Coach Anne played ALTA and USTA tennis; she volunteer-coached with Decatur recreation and Grady High School; served on the board of Decatur Women’s Sports League and the Women’s Outdoor Network.  Most recently she has put together the Pickleball Intown Girls league. She has become an avid pickleball player and coach. Coach Anne is a certified PCI and PPR pickleball coach.  She enjoys helping people of all backgrounds, ages, and ability levels on the pickleball courts. She began playing competitive pickleball tournaments herself in 2021.

Joe is a PTR Certified teaching professional with over 25 years of experience. During his tennis journey, he has had the opportunity to play at a high level as a junior and young adult in various tennis tournaments throughout the country.

As a teaching professional, he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with toddlers, juniors, young adults, adults, and Olympians! He is very proud of the fact that he has been able to help juniors achieve their dreams of earning tennis scholarships. He also takes great joy in seeing his adult teams improve every season and ultimately compete in the City Championships.

He loves working with USTA, ALTA, and junior teams of all levels, bringing all of the personalities of the players on the court together for one purpose, TEAM! He has extensive experience in running cardio tennis, men’s drills, beginner ladies, tournaments, and fun socials as well.

Besides being a tennis professional, Joe is also a chef and traveler. He is an adventurous, energetic, kind, and creative person. The tennis courts are his home and coaching brings him the greatest joy of all!

Coach Bobby Hollins is a College Park, Maryland native bringing his experience to Atlanta. He was a highly ranked junior player who represented the state of Alabama in the United States Youth Games. He received a scholarship to play collegiate tennis at Alabama A&M University. He was highlighted in the “Who’s Who Among Black Collegiate Athletes”. Coach Bobby has taught all levels and ages, including summer camps, group lessons, private lessons, and teams. He coached a junior travel team that represented in the 2018 NJTL Excellence Teams Cup held at the JTCC in College Park, Maryland. Additionally, Coach Bobby coordinated with school officials and staff to organize and train students in an after- school program that gave instructions and exposure to basic tennis through the Atlanta Youth Tennis and Education Foundation (AYTEF) at Camp Creek Middle School, Union City, Georgia. He has two teenage boys who are also highly ranked juniors in the state of Georgia.

Coach Chris was born and raised London, England. He attended University at Hackney College in London. Coach Chris has played sports at a high level his entire life. He played semi-professional soccer as well as tennis. He has been coaching in the Atlanta area for the past seventeen years.

Coach Chris has taught tennis all over the Atlanta area and most recently with Emory University. He has vast experience coaching adult ALTA and USTA teams, adult group and private lessons, cardio tennis, high performance junior players, recreational level junior players, and private lessons to all ages and levels. He specializes in helping doubles teams with strategy, tactical movement, stroke mechanics, and creating effective partnerships. Coach Chris has led many of his doubles teams to become City Champions at multiple levels. He is certified with the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and with the USTA, Net Generation program. He is still a very active tennis player and has been a City Champion in Atlanta 8 times. Coach Chris enjoys playing tennis and chess. He also has apassion for music and dancing.

Coach Emory Harris is a PTR certified graduate from Albany State University. He has over 20 years of tennis teaching experience in the Atlanta and surrounding areas. He has coached several teams to ALTA Finals and, from that, has accumulated two ALTA championship trophies.

His teaching experience includes adult teams, private lessons, beginners, Intermediate and advance adult drills. He specializes in working with children 6 years and older, 10 and under ALTA junior teams, as well as 12 and over ALTA junior teams.

Emory has 10 years of experience working at various tennis centers such as Chastain and Bisty Grant. He had a helping hand in developing the afterschool tennis program at Sutton Middle School. Also, he has taught at Emory University with their adult continuing education program.

Three words to describe Emory are energetic, skilled, and experienced.

After high school, Alex played D1 tennis at both Kennesaw State University and IUPUI. At Kennesaw, he was named to the A-Sun All-Freshman team playing at 1 singles and 1 doubles for most of the season. At IUPUI, he was named to the All-Summit League team. Alex graduated from IUPUI with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and received his master’s degree in clinical rehabilitation counseling from Mercer University.

As a teaching professional, Alex has several years of experience working with adults, juniors, and high-performance players. Believing that every player is unique, Alex tailors coaching strategies to individual strengths, ensuring players of all levels—from beginners to competitive athletes—can reach their full potential.

Tereza Koplova is a highly accomplished tennis player and coach with a distinguished career in both professional and collegiate tennis. Known for her competitive spirit and impressive achievements, Tereza competed in ITF and UTR tournaments, showcasing her skill on the international stage. She also won the doubles Czech Championship alongside Markéta Vondroušová, further solidifying her status as a top-tier player.

Tereza’s collegiate career at Georgia Gwinnett College was marked by exceptional success. During her time at GGC, she posted an outstanding 48-1 singles record and a 35-10 doubles record, earning her multiple accolades along the way. She was named to the NAIA All-America team in 2021 and 2022, with 2021 and 2022 selections as an NAIA Singles All-American and 2020 and 2021 as a Doubles All-American. In 2023, Tereza was awarded Academic All-American of the Year, reflecting her excellence both on the court and in the classroom.

Tereza’s impressive athletic career was complemented by her leadership abilities. As a graduate assistant coach for the men’s and women’s tennis teams at Union Commonwealth University, she played a key role in developing student-athletes and fostering a competitive environment. Her combination of athletic prowess, coaching experience, and commitment to academic excellence makes her a well-rounded and respected figure in the tennis community.

Tereza’s passion for tennis, dedication to continuous improvement, and commitment to helping others reach their full potential define her approach both as a player and a coach.

Victor Lopes is originally from New Caledonia, France. He played college tennis at both Union College and Grand Valley State University, competing at the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels. His playing background allowed him to compete in strong team environments and helped shape the way he approaches coaching today. Having experienced high-level college tennis as both a player and an assistant coach, he understands the importance of discipline, consistency, and creating a positive environment for improvement.

His coaching experience includes serving as the Assistant Coach for the Grand Valley State University Men’s Tennis Team, where he helped lead practices, conditioning sessions, and player development. In that role, he was involved in building practice plans, supporting athletes in their day-to-day development, and helping players improve both physically and mentally on the court. He also helped coach a doubles team that qualified for nationals. Victor recently completed his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, which adds a strong performance, movement, and fitness component to his coaching. He enjoys helping players not only improve their technique and confidence but also better understand how to move, compete, and perform at their best.

Coach Phoenix is a passionate and dedicated tennis coach, thrilled to share her love of the game with players of all levels. A lifelong resident of Atlanta, she grew up playing tennis at various local tennis centers, building a deep connection with the sport.

Her tennis journey took a significant leap when she attended IMG Academy for four years, refining her skills and competing at the highest level in junior tennis. Throughout her junior career, Coach Phoenix had the opportunity to compete internationally, representing her talents in South America, Jamaica, and Europe.

Coach Phoenix’s hard work and determination earned her a full-ride scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she competed at the NCAA Division I level. During her time at TSU, she honed her competitive edge, gaining invaluable experience both on and off the court.

Now, Coach Phoenix is excited to bring her wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her coaching, helping players grow, learn, and thrive in the sport she loves. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to elevate your game, Coach Phoenix is here to guide and inspire you every step of the way!

Autumn Clemons, has been playing tennis for over 15 years, competing in top Southern and National junior tournaments and leading her high school team to its first-ever state championship at the No. 1 singles spot. She graduated as a top player with a 10 UTR and went on to attend the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). While at UGA, she balanced college life with training and chasing her tennis dreams.

These days, she competes professionally on the ITF Circuit, UTR Pro Tennis Tour, and in events like the Intennse Pro Tennis League. She brings everything she’s learned—from high-level match play to daily training—into every session she coaches. Whether you’re picking up a racquet for the first time, a junior chasing tournament points, or an adult looking to dominate your ALTA league, she’s here to help you grow your game in a fun, focused, and supportive environment.

Let’s hit!

Norian started playing tennis at the age of 7 and got his first coaching job at 17, helping out with juniors at Sugar Creek Tennis Center. Norian competed in junior tournaments, team tennis, and even played in the junior WTT Tournament twice, hosted by Billie Jean King. Afterwards, he went on to play D1 tennis at Tennessee State University where he got his degree in Human Performance Sports Sciences with a focus in Kinesiology. During Norian’s time at TSU he would come back home every summer and continue working with kids of all ages and levels in the Atlanta area.

Once Norian graduated, he came back to Atlanta and began coaching kids and adults full time at Peachtree Corners and Sweetwater Tennis Center. He was assistant coach of an HP group at Sweetwater where they won girls 2021 USTA, 18U Team city Championship, Boys 18u Team city 2021 runner up, and Boys 18u Team City runner up 2022. Norian has had multiple adult women’s and mixed teams who have won ALTA/USTA Team tennis and consistent playoff contenders. Norian’s coaching style is high energy and active with a focus in fitness, mechanics, strategy, and mentality. Norian likes to have a lot of fun but also make sure players get the most out of their practice.

Omarr Hollins started his tennis career in Prince George’s County, Maryland where he was introduced to tennis at a very young age under his father inside of Watkins Tennis Bubble. Bringing his experience to Atlanta, he quickly became recognized as a top junior in the USTA Leagues, through both his individual and team efforts with Agape Tennis Academy at Dekalb Tennis Center. His on-court success and experiences allowed him to become a Junior Coach for both the Agape Summer Camp and the Nike Tennis Camps at Emory University. Omarr is currently training in Agape’s High Performance Program under Coach Nathan Pasha. Coach Nathan has designated Omarr as a Hitting Partner to help Junior players work on match play techniques to build upon on-court tournament experiences. His level of experience ranges from assisting with Quickstart Red Ball through the Performance classes.

Vicente Lagos is a former professional tennis player with notable achievements in both singles and doubles. He reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 1421 in singles and No. 988 in doubles.

After high school, Vicente moved to the United States to pursue collegiate tennis. He started at Keiser University (West Palm Beach), where he was named Sun Conference Player of the Year, National Player to Watch, earned Sun Conference Doubles Team of the Year honors, and received First Team All-American, ITA All-American, and All-Conference recognition. He won the ITA Doubles Regional Championship and was singles runner-up. He ended the 2018 season ranked No. 2 in the NAIA in singles and No. 8 in doubles.

He transferred to Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), where he helped the team win two NAIA National Championships (2021 and 2022). In 2022, Vicente earned NAIA Second Team All-American honors, with a 21-1 singles record and a 17-0 doubles record. He famously won the clinching point in the 2022 National Championship final against Keiser University on May 2, 2022.

Following graduation, Vicente served as Full-Time Assistant Coach at Georgia Gwinnett College from 2022 through Fall 2025. During this period, he helped the team win five NAIA National Championships.

After one and a half years of studies, Vicente completed his Certification in Tennis Biomechanics.

Vicente currently coaches at Agape Tennis Academy, with a strong focus on High Performance player development.

Coach Denise is a lifelong athlete and tennis enthusiast. She played varsity tennis, soccer, and track in high school, and played on the college tennis team at Harvard. She taught tennis for the local recreation department during high school and college and coached at Offense-Defense Tennis Camp while in college.

Given her love of the joy and connection that sports bring to kids’ lives, initially, after her retirement from a 25-year career at the CDC, Denise volunteered with Atlanta Flying Disc Club Juniors (ultimate frisbee), eventually becoming its Director. But after her son (the ultimate frisbee player) graduated from high school, she returned to playing her own sport, tennis. Since 2019 Denise has participated on various ALTA and USTA tennis teams.

Denise started playing pickleball in Summer 2021 and quickly grew to enjoy the rapid pace and competitiveness coupled with the accessibility of the sport. Seeing her 83-year-old father’s transition from tennis to pickleball several years prior, she knew that she wanted to introduce more people to the sport. She became PPR-certified as a coach in September 2021, and looks forward to helping you pick up this increasingly popular lifetime sport!

Teresa is a Georgia native and grew up in the little town of Pelham in south Georgia. Teresa has always loved competing in any sport that challenged her. She grew up playing golf, basketball, softball and tennis. During her preteen years, Teresa would strap her tennis racquet to her motorcycle, ride to the local high school, and climb the fence to the tennis courts (since the gate was locked for summer) just to hit balls off the backboard – that’s how determined she was to be the best when she competed! In high school, Teresa coached many of the rising tennis stars at the local club, and won 3 region titles herself. Teresa went on to play collegiate tennis, winning the National Jr. College Championship in Singles. After college, Teresa played USTA and ALTA tennis, rising to the AA1 level of competition.

After graduating from the University of Georgia, Teresa had a successful 30-year career in Accounting and Finance, while continuing to enjoy tennis. In 2021 she hung up the tennis racquet for a pickleball paddle and has been hooked ever since. She enjoys the fast pace of pickleball, while playing competitive mixed doubles and women’s doubles, in addition to all the friendships she has build in a short amount of time. Teresa has won medals of every level, from Bronze to Silver to Gold, in various tournaments including the Georgia Mountain Tournament, Atlanta Open, North Carolina Open, and the Doc Holliday Shootout. Teresa also won Gold at the 2022 Atlanta Metro Open in the 55+ division and won a Golden Ticket to Nationals. She became PPR-Certified as a coach in 2021 and looks forward to introducing you to the sport and helping you better your game.

Coach Su Anderson is a paddle sport enthusiast! She started with table tennis as a young child, varsity tennis in high school, ALTA tennis for over 25 years, and now pickleball!

Su is a graduate from Emory University and practices anesthesia in Atlanta. She is an advocate for health and activity and wants to encourage others to maintain a good quality of life through the wonderful sport of pickleball! She has held multiple team building events with her hospital work staff by hosting pickleball introductions and play.

Su’s two college age sons and husband have also caught the “pickleball bug” and play as a family. She has made quick friends with the pickleball community and will be seen almost daily on the courts.

As a PPR-Certified Coach, Su hopes to share her joy of pickleball through play, individual progress and assisting in tournament preparations. She enjoys playing in tournaments all over the southeast and has won bronze, silver, and gold in multiple levels. She has medaled in women’s doubles and singles and continues to progress in her own game.

Her enthusiasm for pickleball is undeniable, and she looks forward to sharing that enthusiasm with others.

As a lifelong Atlanta native and passionate tennis player, Coach Gedasse is thrilled to be a part of the team at Agape Tennis Academy. His journey with the sport began at the age of nine at the South Fulton Tennis Center, sparking a lifelong dedication to the game. Throughout his youth and high school career at North Springs Charter, he remained heavily involved in athletics, lettering in tennis, football, and wrestling, and eventually competing at the collegiate level for Tuskegee University.

Beyond his athletic background, he is deeply committed to community service and the promotion of healthy, active lifestyles. As an Eagle Scout and founder of a local BSA troop in East Point, he has seen firsthand the positive impact that mentorship and sport can have on others. Whether he is on the court or working with the community, his goal is to share his love for tennis and empower players of all levels to prioritize their wellness and reach their personal best.

After playing for the Walton High School Raiders from 1999-2003, she went on to receive a tennis scholarship to play for the Davidson College Wildcats in North Carolina, where she studied philosophy and Spanish. Her other career highlights include: Competing in the USTA Zone Team Championships (Zonals) 12 & under in Indianapolis. Winning 3 consecutive Georgia State Junior Closed Tennis Championships G16s and G18s at her favorite tournament in Augusta, GA. Reaching a career-high #2 ranking in the Georgia 18 & under division, which put her as the #2 seed that year at the Georgia State Junior Qualifiers Tournament in Macon, GA. And finally, helping her high school tennis team become State Champions.

She began coaching after college at the very same academies that once taught her to play the game. She mentored with dedicated professionals, developing her coaching style to fit players of all ages and skill levels. She took the Assistant Tennis Professional position at Indian Hills Country Club in 2011, where she founded the Cardio Tennis Program. She was well-known for her motivating personality, high-energy coaching style, and strategic, creative drills. She has a knack for improving a player’s overall game and technique in both private and group lessons. Her favorite shot in her arsenal is a close tie between the slice backhand and the serve-andvolley. She thinks of herself as a “net monster” and loves to encourage her players to control and dominate the short-court. In her free time she enjoys hiking, camping, and adventuring with her girlfriend and their four dogs Sunny, Otis, Scarlett, and Lucky.

Michelle started playing tennis in 2022 as a Covid hobby. What started as a COVID hobby quickly turned into a passion for tennis and a love for the sport. She started out playing ALTA on a C-level team and is now the Captain of an A1 team and has progressed from being USTA 3.0 to 4.5 within 4 years. She has played at the USTA State Tournament for both 3.5 and 4.0 women’s, being their strongest singles player. She was also a key player in her USTA 3.5 Mixed Doubles team, winning matches throughout the season and State Tournament and leading her team to a spot to compete at USTA Nationals in Orlando in 2024. She played on an AA3 ALTA team in Spring 2026 and was a key contributor throughout the season, winning crucial matches to take the team to win City Finals.

Her love for this sport expands beyond just playing tennis. Michelle is a very dedicated captain for both her USTA and ALTA teams. She leads by example and holds herself to the highest standards. She was the captain of an ALTA A5 team in Fall 2025 and led the team to win City Finals, playing Line 1 for the majority of the weeks. She was also the captain of an aMixed 4.0 team in Fall 2025 and played crucial matches during the season and all matches in the playoffs, and helped the team earn a spot at the USTA State Tournament in September 2026.

Michelle plays the highest levels in her Flex leagues (T2, Ultimate, USTA Ladder). In 2025, she was the winner of the USTA 4.0+ ladder for the entire calendar year. She has also won Ultimate 5.5 City Finals for Singles and T2 4.5 City Finals for Singles.

In her free time, aside from tennis, Michelle enjoys traveling with her husband and trying out new restaurants in Atlanta. But of course, her husband is also a dedicated tennis player, so their favorite time together is playing mixed doubles.

After playing for the Walton High School Raiders from 1999-2003, she went on to receive a tennis scholarship to play for the Davidson College Wildcats in North Carolina, where she studied philosophy and Spanish. Her other career highlights include: Competing in the USTA Zone Team Championships (Zonals) 12 & under in Indianapolis. Winning 3 consecutive Georgia State Junior Closed Tennis Championships G16s and G18s at her favorite tournament in Augusta, GA. Reaching a career-high #2 ranking in the Georgia 18 & under division, which put her as the #2 seed that year at the Georgia State Junior Qualifiers Tournament in Macon, GA. And finally, helping her high school tennis team become State Champions.

She began coaching after college at the very same academies that once taught her to play the game. She mentored with dedicated professionals, developing her coaching style to fit players of all ages and skill levels. She took the Assistant Tennis Professional position at Indian Hills Country Club in 2011, where she founded the Cardio Tennis Program. She was well-known for her motivating personality, high-energy coaching style, and strategic, creative drills. She has a knack for improving a player’s overall game and technique in both private and group lessons. Her favorite shot in her arsenal is a close tie between the slice backhand and the serve-andvolley. She thinks of herself as a “net monster” and loves to encourage her players to control and dominate the short-court. In her free time she enjoys hiking, camping, and adventuring with her girlfriend and their four dogs Sunny, Otis, Scarlett, and Lucky.

Raj Kosaraju is a PPR-certified coach with 8+ years competitive play. He’s won multiple medals in all formats across the nation. He transitioned from college Badminton and Table Tennis to become a top pickleball instructor for all ages, focusing on solid foundations, skill development, and making the sport fun. Coach Raj offers private lessons, clinics, and group sessions with emphasis on Strategy for tournaments or competitive play. He is an expert event organizer with over 100 pickleball tournaments and corporate events under his belt. 

Coach Chase is a lifelong resident of Atlanta and has played tennis for as long as he can remember. He’s spent a lot of time playing with his brother over the years, and they were undefeated in doubles in his senior season at Lakeside High School in Atlanta.  Chase was named captain of the team and won the prestigious Viking award his senior season for athletic performance, leadership, and character.

He continued his tennis career in college on the club tennis team at Georgia Southern University. Chase has given private lessons since high school, and he’s coached at Agape since 2021.  He specializes in helping his clients improve their tennis skills and understanding, and also making it a fun and exciting experience to look forward to.

Chase comes from a family of tennis players and enjoys hitting with players of all ages and abilities.  Having been a ball kid at the Atlanta Open, he loves seeing college and professional tennis up close.  Chase’s other hobbies include basketball, surfing, cliff jumping, ping pong, parkour, and playing with his dog Pongo.  

Cecilia’s connection to the tennis world runs deep through her youngest son’s passion for the sport. This familiarity offers her unique insights into the dynamics of the tennis community and is how she came to know Agape.

Despite her busy schedule, Cecilia finds balance in family life with her three children: Milu, Lucas, and Juan, alongside her supportive husband, Gustavo, and their adorable mini Maltese, Mei.

Cecilia is also an avid volleyball player. Her love for the sport began at the age of 9, continued through college, and now she shares the court with her daughter, keeping the passion alive across generations.

Adrien is a St. Louis to Atlanta implant. Growing up in the midwest, they were raised in performing arts school. Adrien moved to Atlanta in late 2014 and attended school at Henderson Middle and Lakeside High School. Throughout school they continued their passion for the arts, participating in chorus as well as drama, and stage crew.

In high school, they were a part of the Black Student Union as well as Ladies of Distinction, both of which are leadership groups that give back to the community around us. Adrien is also a graduate of Pearl School of Modeling and a recipient of the leadership award. They’re excited to be joining our crew.

Originally from Chicago, Jade has been playing tennis since she was just three years old and continued through high school. These days, she loves hitting the courts recreationally; it keeps her active and is one of her favorite ways to get in some cardio.

Off the court, she has a background as a legal assistant and in executive administration. When she isn’t working or playing tennis, you can usually find her traveling, cooking, spending time with her family, or hanging with her shitzu yorkie, Coco Chanel.

Chris Freeman was born and raised in Norcross, Georgia. Growing up, he played soccer and swam competitively year round. He graduated from Norcross High School, where he played baseball and football. He studied political science at Georgia Southern University and Georgia State. He had his own landscaping company for many years called Green Monster Landscaping, but he is a jack of all trades. His favorite hobby by far is listening to music. His vast knowledge of songs and artists and his uncanny ability to remember lyrics from almost every song he hears are astounding. He has traveled around the southeast following his favorite band, Pearl Jam. He enjoys just about every sport there is, but his favorite would be baseball. He has been married to Annie Freeman for almost 19 years and has a 16-year-old daughter named Maddux (who was named after former Braves pitcher). Chris brings his knowledge of landscape, maintenance, and attention to detail to Agape, as Director of Maintenance for all Georgia locations and office assistant at two locations.

Christine grew up playing tennis in Augusta, Georgia. She moved up to Atlanta four years ago to start her college career at Georgia Institute of Technology.  She is now in her senior year of studying biology and ocean climate and plans to pursue research in these areas. She dedicates lots of her free time to tennis, whether that is watching or playing, and loves being a part of the Georgia Tech club tennis team.

Zainayyah Pasha is originally from Philadelphia. She’s now a student at Georgia State University and reigniting her childhood love for tennis. With a bubbly and outgoing personality, she brings a bright, friendly energy wherever she goes. She loves painting, baking, crocheting, hanging out with friends, and diving into new creative hobbies. A fun fact about her: she was almost a twin.

Hi! I’m Xia, and I’m a Front Desk Coordinator at Agape Tennis Academy. I love being one of the first faces people see when they walk through the doors, and I do my best to make everyone feel welcomed with a smile. One of the things I value most is creating a warm, positive environment where every guest feels seen and supported.

Outside of the academy, I’m a student at Georgia State University. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering with families and organizations that support women’s health because giving back to my community is something that’s very important to me. I also love to travel and experience new places, cultures, and food whenever I get the chance.

I’m excited to be part of the Agape community, and I look forward to meeting you on your next visit!

Steffi is from Milton, GA and played 4 years of tennis for Milton High School. She went on to play for Catawba College, a Division II school outside of Charlotte, NC. She currently holds the record for most singles wins in a career for any woman at Catawba.

After college, Steffi went on to earn her master’s in Strategic Communication from High Point University in High Point, NC. She has spent the last 12 and a half years working in digital marketing for various companies throughout Atlanta.

Steffi loves being involved in the local Atlanta tennis community and helping others get started with the sport. She is also an avid pickleball player and is always looking for new folks to play with!

Lucas moved from Argentina five years ago and attended Decatur High School. He is currently a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in business administration at Georgia Institute of Technology. Lucas has always had a passion for sports, playing tennis and soccer from a young age. He remains active, with his new passion revolving around long-distance running.