About Me
Hi there! I have been working as a tennis coach and hitting partner for over 20 years ( 5 years in Moscow, Russia; 1 year in New York and 16 years in Los Angeles). I am a nice guy on and off the court! As soon as you meet me you would feel like you've known me for years.
Teaching Style
Hi there,
I've been a tennis coach and pro hitting partner for over 20 years (Moscow Russia, New York and Los Angeles)
My extremely active tennis lessons are for those of you that competitive, tournament or league players (2.5-5.5).
You will learn how to play against and win over all styles of players!... starting from aggressive baseliners to high and loopy ball players\pushers (including Federer's, Nadal's and Djokovic's styles of play).
It is not just about a correction of your backhand, forehand, footwork,etc...it is also a new strategy you get playing different players within a lesson. During my lesson you play points against multiple players: serve and volley; flat shot (only); under spin backhand and top spin forehand; pushers; inpatient huge hitters\baseliners, etc... i "upgrade a player" multiple times to make you ready to face your near future similar styles opponents and beat them all.
Parents, unfortunately I do not teach kids anymore (unless they are advanced tournament players) .
No tennis cart or basket full of balls will be ever used in my lessons (I don't teach beginners and i am not one of those "more talking-less doing" coaches). And I don't just feed balls to my students...like one ball for each shot. I take you into long extended rallies with all the shots that exist in modern tennis: flat, spin, slice, heavy spin, side and back spin\slice, drop shot, etc...and you learn how to hit it and how to deal with it.
I am definitely NOT one of those many "coaches" in LA who give lessons without knowing how to teach...and play (!!!!!!!!) just because they have never been tennis pro or (at least) semi-pro tennis players themselves. I see lots of those "coaches" and lessons almost everyday. Unfortunately, people (their students) do not realize that and keep taking unhelpful lessons from them.
So if you are a competitive tennis player and you want to improve or change your game, and become a stronger athlete and better player for your next tournament or match,- email me and join the "club". During my lessons you'd rather feel more like a player than a student.
Photos
Latest Reviews
Ilya is the only coach who has truly improved my tennis game! He's fun, engaging, and great to work with. We often play games where he mimics different player styles, challenging me to strategize and improve. Highly recommend!
Ilya is the best! I look forward to our lessons every week! He has the best attitude and is so patient. He truly wants to see his students learn and grow and cares about the sport of tennis. Don’t hesitate- definitely book Ilya!!!!
Ilya is great! He won't go easy on you, but I saw improvement in just a few lessons because of it. He'll make you a better player.
FAQ's
Yes! I often work with groups of families or friends with 2-4 people.
Nope! All fees are already included in the price. (tennis court fees, taxes, etc)
Yes, I can travel up to 15 miles to a tennis court in your area.
There is a 6 hour minimum commitment, but if you are not happy after the first lesson, I offer a 100% money back guarantee.
I will contact you shortly after signup. You will NOT be charged until we have spoken about your schedule and other important details.
MTL Satisfaction Guarantee
If you are not satisfied after the first lesson, we will set you up with another coach or refund your remaining lesson credits.