Success Stories &
Testimonials
Adam N.
July 6, 2019
" Working with Coach George was the smartest decision I made regarding improving my tennis game. He presents information with such clarity that the game begins to break down into manageable components. His techniques, strategies, and insights, serve as practical tools for proper stroke techniques, positioning, and strategizing how to maximize your abilities and limit your mistakes. His blend of traditional instruction with bespoke education distinguishes him from his peers. Too often, tennis coaches attempt to fit their rigid philosophy on players irrespective of the player’s personal talents or limitations. Coach George recognizes that his instruction must shift depending on the athlete and employs dozens of techniques and ideas in an effort to help each player. Each time I went to meet with Coach George, I was blown away by the different lessons he was providing to each of his players prior to our lessons.
However, the coach/player relationship is not strictly about technical proficiency. Coach George is a fabulous motivator and holds his players accountable with each step of improvement. Regardless of level, Coach George is always pushing his players to reach their potential, in a respectful and responsible fashion. His ability to help his players focus and concentrate are second to none. He has the rare ability to merge the physical aspects of the game with the mental components of the game, all in an effort to create a well-rounded player. I often reflect on lessons Coach George has taught me and have been able to make in-game adjustments even in the most heated and challenging moments of competition. After one year with Coach George, I moved to NYC and rose to the #1 player in my division at my club/league. I credit Coach George for my ability to reach this level.
Above all, Coach George is a remarkable human being. His care and kindness underlie everything he does. While he knows how to push his players to reach their potential, he is also deeply concerned with their lives, goals, and ambitions. Speaking with Coach George about various aspects of my life has helped shape who I am and I value our relationship deeply. If you want to learn from one of the most gifted tennis instructors in the country, look no further. My only regret is that I hadn’t taken lessons with him sooner!"
Krista R.
July 8, 2019
"The woman I am today is not the same person as the girl who first starting taking lessons with George when I was 8 years old. Back then, I was the quiet kid in class and the only thing I was best at on the court was picking up balls. But, I stuck with it, and with George’s guidance, support, and endless patience, I became a nationally-ranked singles player, a nationally-ranked college doubles player, and a 2-time captain of my tennis team at Vassar College.
George’s talent and skill as a coach comes from his extraordinary ability to develop efficiency in action for any tennis player, no matter your level or how you are built. He helped to to maximize the abilities that I had and develop the athleticism and skills needed to be a nationally ranked athlete. In addition, George’s level hard work and dedication on a daily basis are exceptional, and he expects nothing less from his students. George trains the entire individual, physically, mentally and emotionally. I still rely on the lessons he taught me on and off the court. "
Michal K.
July 8, 2019
"Coach George is an amazing coach. He’s very sensitive to the needs of his clients and demonstrates unbelievable patience. Initially, I thought I was only participating in tennis as an activity to remain healthy, but really it was strategically for my mental/emotional game at work. Tennis has helped me to learn the unspoken rules that connect to overall life. An example from Coach George, “ The body is an architectural structure and without balance it will fall over!” Learning to play tennis has made me more confident, allowed me to hear and see things differently, and having a coach/student relationship with Coach George has made me more open and trusting so that I can remove any fear and move forward."
Jake G.
July 22, 2019
"Coach George imparted upon me both incredibly strong tennis fundamentals and key lessons about mental toughness, both of which I will carry with me forever. George is a truly outstanding coach who can help literally anyone achieve his/her tennis goals. Specifically, there are a few traits George exhibits that make him particularly successful as a coach: an unmatched attention to detail, genuine investment in his players, and relentless persistence to help each of his players reach their goals.
First, his attention to detail: George does not let you hit a shot without his close observation. He will critique even the smallest imperfections in your strokes to help you hone them until you reach tip-top form. In fact, George’s focus on the fundamentals—making sure that each of your strokes is fundamentally sound and will serve you a lifetime of high-quality, reliable tennis—is one of his best traits as a coach. I think that my fundamentals, which George made sure to help me perfect, were critical in the development of my game and my national success as a tennis player.
In addition to George’s unmatched attention to detail, the investment he puts into all of his players is truly special. George views all of his players almost as children of his own. He brings his best self every day to the court, and he will do whatever it takes to help you reach your goals—that could mean hitting literally thousands of backhand cross courts with you or spending half of your lesson helping you mentally prepare for an upcoming match. Every player’s development becomes George’s personal project—he will be there with you at every step of the way and do everything in his power to help you achieve success. This entails not only teaching his students to play great tennis, but also teaching lessons that apply to life more broadly—in fact, many of the lessons from George that still stick with me today are not even specific to tennis.
Finally, George’s persistence with his players is truly unusual—he is able to adapt to players of all levels and ages, and put full effort in to each of his players development, even when that means working through particularly rough patches or weaknesses in the player’s game . There were times in which I was stubborn or struggling to master a new shot or strategy—but George stuck with me through the hardest moments, which led me to success. All of the attributes I’ve described make George a very rare, all-around coach who molds incredibly well to anyone he works with.
George was instrumental in my achievements—I reached the #1 ranking in the Mid-Atlantic 16-and-under division as well as the #2 ranking in the 18-and-under division, holding each of those positions for months. I played and won many matches in all of the Level 1 national tournaments (the highest level tournaments in the U.S.T.A. Junior Circuit, also called “Super Nationals”), including Kalamazoo (the winner of which gets fed directly into the US Open grand slam). Additionally, I represented the Mid-Atlantic in multiple national team events, and I competed in a team event that only accepted the top 32 players in the United States that applied. I had offers to play tennis at multiple of the top-5-ranked Division III tennis programs as well as multiple top Division I programs. All in all, George is a very special coach, and you won’t find many others like him. Try even one lesson with George and you will understand what he is capable of.
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Abkari Family
Before - May 2019
July 22, 2019
After - July 2019
My kids Rayyan and Waleed have been taking lessons with George for ten weeks. They like that George pushes them to try harder and their tennis has improved as a result. My son Waleed loves to play tennis and enjoys the fact that George keeps him involved in the training. When I come to pick up the kids, I often see George using both playfulness and humor to engage them, especially with Rayyan, to keep them motivated. George is very clear, concise and extremely knowledgeable about the game. Plus, the kids like the training and they feel a sense of accomplishment as they progress through George’s lessons.
Nathan K.
August 19, 2019
As a young child growing up in Baltimore, my family set me up with George Martin, a well-renowned tennis coach in the Baltimore area, and I couldn’t have been luckier. George was one of the most influential adult figures in my life from about age 9 until I went off to Indiana University for college at 18 years old. George’s mentor ship and guidance went far beyond the tennis court as he was someone I could always count on for support and the work ethic he instilled in me as a child, has carried over into all aspects of my life, especially today as an adult.
As a current business owner and real estate developer in Atlanta, when I look back at my childhood tennis career, , the most important lessons I learned in 10 years working with George, was not the awesome forehand he taught me, but the man he groomed me to become. I learned at an early age that success comes with consistency, dedication, and a tireless work ethic. All the kids that trained with me under George’s direction had the same hard work mentality and it was a direct reflection of George’s background and experience.
Anyone that has the opportunity to be coached by George will be getting an excellent technical coach and a wonderful man. Just watch out, when you get good enough to truly compete with him, his competitive edge will come out and he may have you thinking twice about playing him!