Each week we visit our Champions of Southern California Tennis – those who go above and beyond to promote and grow the game throughout SoCal and beyond. These individuals and organizations deliver the game of tennis to a variety of audiences, often in places where the significance of tennis goes far beyond the court itself. As we share their stories with you, we commend their ongoing efforts to grow the game and make positive, life-changing impacts on those they touch.
Very rarely do you find a tennis instructor who cares about his client’s ability to get better as both a player and person. Meet Alex Venidis. Now serving as the organizer of Orange County Top Tennis, Venidis’ goal is to get more children involved in tennis. A former member of the varsity tennis team at the University of Southern California, Alex was ranked first in the nation and a two-time NCAA champion. In addition to spreading a love of tennis to children, Alex also wants to teach children and adults new skills and provide them with the opportunity to be physically and emotionally fit while playing tennis. Orange County Top Tennis is looking to begin extensive marketing of their programs to get children more involved.
Photo Courtesy of Alex Venidis
“Our goal is to get more children playing tennis and make them the best they can be,” said Venidis. “This could be making a high school team, a collegiate team, or even turning pro.”
Orange County Top Tennis offers three different classes with Venidis, including Future Stars, Kids Beginners, and Kids Intermediate/Advanced. Future Stars is designed for children ages 5-7, where fundamental strokes, footwork, and balance are the main focus. The Kids Beginners class is intended to teach the fundamental strokes including the forehand, backhand, volley, and serve, as well introducing kids to tennis terms and encouraging enjoyment in playing with friends. The Kids Intermediate/Advanced group is structured to build from the fundamentals of tennis and empathizes ball consistency by hitting from the baseline. Venidis also offers private lessons.
Venidis has been able to establish consistent programming for kids 10 and under and would love to grow in many more locations. When asked why he does what he does, Venidis responded, “Tennis is my life, it’s my oxygen. It’s a passion and an enjoyment to see children learning a wonderful sport, watching them getting better week after week.”
For additional information, please contact Alex Venidis at alex@orangecountytoptennis.com or his website, orangecountytoptennis.com.
-Jeremy Goode