My name is Orun, and I'm excited to write another blog for Ace the Moon.
My Tennis Journey
I sat down at a café in Los Angeles recently with Josh, the founder of Ace the Moon. We started talking about how we both got into the game of tennis, and coaching. With that conversation, I started to reflect on my journey from being a junior player to where I am today as a student at UCLA and a tennis teaching professional.
I was 12 years old when I first held a tennis racket in my hands. At that time, I was living close to Tokyo, and I never participated in competitive sports, except for skiing. Skiing was my sport, but it was seasonal and I felt the need for another sport that I could play year-round.
Kei Nishikori, a Japanese player, was dominating the men’s tour. He had reached the final of the 2014 US Open, climbing the ranking ladder all the way to number four. With admiration for Kei, I took a trial lesson at a local tennis academy. Not knowing that you typically hit forehands with one hand, I started swinging the racket like a baseball bat. I loved every single minute on the court. I felt a connection that was different from other sports I had played. Something about the mixture of elegance of the game and competitiveness drew me in.
Meeting Kei Nishikori was surely a highlight of my early tennis years.
The Dawn of Coaching
I kept playing tennis. After moving back to the States, I hit the courts hard. In high school, however, I came across a turning point. With my passion for the sport and my experience of academic tutoring at my school, I took up the offer to be an assistant tennis coach. It was not an academy or a club, but rather, a small after-school program. Being a teenager and getting a taste of the professional industry, it was a great learning experience for me.
As much as I enjoyed playing, the experience taught me that I much prefer to coach. I became a tennis professional at an academy and a club while I was a teenager, which compared to many in the industry, I was on the younger side. It was not easy but it was very fun and exhilarating. Working with participants who are twice my age or even older felt uneasy at first, but believing in myself has allowed me to bring out my passion for coaching.
There are several coaches that I look up to, and consider to be my role models: Tom Hill, Patrick Mouratoglou, and James Trotman. They are all coaches for ATP and WTA players. Tom Hill, who currently works with the American rising star Peyton Stearns, coached Danielle Collins and previously, Maria Sakkari. Despite being new to coaching, Hill successfully brought Collins and Sakkari to be the top-level players they are today. Mouratoglou, who now coaches former number one, Naomi Osaka, has this unmatched energy and charisma when he's on the court. Many might be familiar with him for his coaching videos on social media. Trotman, who has been with the young British star Jack Draper, helps his players with a calm tone, reassuring players.
Despite having differences in their experiences and the background in how they came to be coaches, one thing is consistent: They are all dynamic with their feedback. Watching practice footage and the coach/player relationships in person has allowed me to observe that the way they approach coaching is "spirited." Whether giving feedback after almost every single shot or during breaks, you can clearly see that their attitude is “for the players.” These three coaches set the example to be "next level" and this is the kind of coaching practice that I have looked up to over the years. Having been a teaching professional for the past five years, I see myself getting closer to becoming a coach on the pro circuit.
Meeting James Trotman, coach of Jack Draper
I'd like to describe my coaching style as “active.” While many coaches may prefer to stand on the sidelines, feeding balls and giving feedback in between points or rallies, I like to be involved. I actively play with or against them, and provide feedback. It doesn't matter whether it is a private lesson or a big group, I will get involved in the drills or games. If it is a feeding drill, of course, that is a different story; we are talking about doing 2-versus-1 drills with the participants, joining a group of three to do a game of “Dingles,” and that sort. For me, it is more fun when your coach is playing in, rather than being on the sidelines. Something I learned from my long-term mentor was, “If you are having fun as a coach, then your students will, too.”
His statement proves my point. I am having so much fun playing with the participants, and so do they.
Dedication, Commitment, and Permanent Learning Process
Just a few weeks ago, I met Naomi Osaka and Patrick Mouratoglou as they were preparing for the 2025 season. I had a chance to talk with both of them, and I mentioned to Patrick that I look up to him, and followed up by asking him, “What does it take to be a great coach like you?” to which he responded:
“It takes dedication, commitment, and a permanent learning process. Believe in yourself, and good luck in the process.”
Just like a lot of things in life, for coaching, the key is to be open-minded. You have to be willing to try out new approaches. I discovered that “active” style of mine after trial and error, and I am still experimenting with new styles. The goal is to work through challenges together with your players, not to impose your views. Standing alongside the player, not far from them – both literally and figuratively. Adapting as required, not rigidly following “the protocol.” The commitment to the notion of “being there for the player,” combined with flexibility, is what it takes to be your ideal coach.
Meeting Patrick Mouratoglou!
Meeting Naomi Osaka!
