Maja P.

Maja’s tennis story started at an age of 5. While walking every day near her local tennis courts and watching tennis matches, to asking for her first tennis racket, Maja's exquisite talent and spirit of sport was recognized at an early age by her first coach - her Dad. Soon after winning numerous renowned tennis tournaments in her home country of Croatia, Maja began her professional career as a Junior, and continued her success in Europe and Internationally. Her tennis career was followed by a team of coaches and her family who supported her along the way and from whom she learned the key elements to tennis: humbleness, dedication, patience, and positivity. During these years, Maja had the opportunity to visit numerous countries around the world and meet people from different cultures and backgrounds, many of which are still her friends today.

With an injury that paused her professional career, she was pleased by an offer from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where her friend and former European Professional Tennis player established SCAD's first tennis program. SCAD's President Paula Wallace was searching for prestigious athletes and wanted to represent SCAD not only as a No.1 Design School in the USA, but also as the finest USTA Tennis College in the United States. Maja decided to visit the University, and the following year became SCAD's Women Tennis Team Captain. She achieved a historical moment for SCAD by winning the first USTA National Championship Title in 2012. With her warm, joyful and competitive spirit, she became the first SCAD Tennis Assistant Head Coach and supported her fellow teammates in the upcoming years. Maja helped the team achieve highest accomplishments with numerous Regional and National wins, all while nourishing her other talents and completing her Master’s Degree in Architecture.

Today, with 15 years’ experience teaching all age groups and backgrounds, Maja is a dedicated professional tennis coach who finds her life and sport success as an inspiration to others in her local communities. On the court, she enjoys sharing her love and complex knowledge of the game as a set of life values to reach student’s full potential, both as players and individuals. Maja’s lessons are full of patience, competitiveness, hard work, and after all - a lot of fun!

“Tennis shoes laced up – see you soon on the court!”

- Coach Maja -

As far as professional tennis, depending on player's goals and personality, I am very patient yet firm when teaching. I would like to make the best of both, time and money for player's benefit, therefor weather it is in a group setting or private lessons, at the beginning I like to see player's current conditions and I can feel what his/ her highest potential can be. From there based on how soon the player can progress, I base practice and conditioning exercise. In both, recreational and professional setting, I believe tennis cannot be loved if there is no fun to it, so every other day I like to incorporate fun games which include singing, dancing, word games while playing. I learned it helps body and mind relax and be more productive. Also, some days may be better or worse than the other, so if the player doesn't feel like hitting there is plenty of activities which can be done on the court if needed. It is all about to make someone love what they do.