ZEPHYRHILLS — Less than a half-decade after the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center opened on Zephyrhills’ western fringe, the facility is set to become one of the sport’s training epicenters.
Patrick Mouratoglou, coach of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and former coach of women’s tennis legend Serena Williams, will launch his latest academy at the Zephyrhills facility.
The Mouratoglou Academy Zephyrhills joins other similar academies in France, Atlanta and Malaysia, though this will be the first with a full tennis and boarding program on U.S. soil. The Vande Berg name will remain attached to the facility, which will keep the statue of Sarah Vande Berg, a former Zephyrhills High girls tennis standout killed in an automobile accident in 2015.
“I’ve always had a vision of expanding Mouratoglou to the United States, and when we discovered the (Vande Berg) center in Zephyrhills, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to bring this dream to life,” Mouratoglou said in a news release.
“The potential to establish our first U.S. academy here was clear from the beginning. This facility is designed not only to welcome dedicated players from Florida but also to attract talent from around the world, offering onsite boarding.”
The academy will feature a boarding house for 90 students, who will follow “an American curriculum designed for both local and international participants,” according to the release. Every student-athlete will be fully immersed in the Mouratoglou Methodology — a philosophy to provide personalized, tailored training that accelerates each player’s growth.
The facility features nine clay courts, including a stadium court with seating for up to 3,000 fans, and two hard courts. An additional five outdoor hard courts and one indoor, air-conditioned court are set to open next summer.
Mouratoglou’s pupils have collected 10 Grand Slam titles, 39 singles crowns and two Olympic medals. He has won four coach of the year awards, with more than 40 players reaching the top 100 under his guidance.
“There is a real vibe in this academy that fit perfectly well with the Mouratoglou team spirit,” Mouratoglou said.
“The fact that the city and the region are so motivated, so much involved and are pushing this project is also a key element in the whole idea about establishing my first U.S. tennis academy there.
“With a tennis and school program that focuses on both academic and athletic development, and a boarding experience similar to our flagship in France, my goal is for Zephyrhills to become a world-class tennis destination like we have achieved in France.”
