ACE THE MOON

Being in the tennis industry for a few years now, I've met some pretty awesome tennis people.  I've found that tennis stringers are an entirely different breed unto themselves.  Strings and a good stringer are just about everything, especially as you get older and start dealing with wrist or elbow issues.  A good stringer can act like a therapist for your on-court woes, and can offer you key advice on what strings to use, what tension to string them your rackets and beyond.  I wanted to share a unique list with you... with a mix of the major shops as well as the more mom-and-pop stringers you wouldn't normally know about.  Here's my go-to guide to the best stringing shops across L.A. 1. The Tennis Garage: (Mar Vista) Why it stands out: Local Business – Operated out of his garage in beautiful Mar Vista, owner Paul Cochrane knows tennis! .  Paul is an awesome stringer and is very knowledgable on what strings and tensions you should be using based on your hitting style, frames and ailments.  Same‑day while‑you‑wait service Tennis-focused gear: Partnership demos (e.g. Wilson, Head, Babolat, Yonex). Customer love: Hanging with Paul!  He even has fruit trees growing in the yard, so grab an orange while you wait  ____________________________________________________________ 2.The Racket Doctor (Atwater Village) Why it stands out: Legacy & expertise – Serving SoCal since 1970, this is L.A.’s premier stringing shop Same‑day while‑you‑wait service by certified stringers. Tennis-focused gear: Partnership demos (e.g. Wilson, Head, Babolat, Yonex). Customer love: called “LA’s #1 OG expert pro shop” with killer selection Why it matters for Ace The Moon readers:A trusted choice for reliability, pro-level tuning, and access to premium gear — ideal for performance-focused players. 2. The Tennis Ace (Studio City) Why it stands out: Family-owned since 1996, led by ex-pro Bruce Man‑Son‑Hing  Rapid service with a personal touch. Full-service rackets, regripping, and apparel from popular brands Great for Studio City locals seeking quality and convenience. 3. Santa Monica Tennis Center (Santa Monica) Why it stands out: Full-service pro shop with custom-built stringing and same‑day turnaround santamonicatenniscenter.com. Uses HEAD 3‑in‑1 machine: measures weight, balance, swing‑weight—perfect for fine tuning. Competitive prices  Ideal for Ace The Moon readers:Offers quick, precise service near the beach — perfect when playing a few sets at Palisades Park or Clover Park. 4. Jem Strings (Alhambra) Why it stands out   Tips for Choosing the Right Stringing Experience Want pro-level precision? Go with Racket Doctor or Santa Monica — their gear and certified techs are top-tier. Looking for speed and ease? Tennis Ace offers friendly regional access, while A1 Stringing saves you a trip altogether. Special requests? Always ask about string types available (poly, natural gut, hybrid) and any diagnostics (swing‑weight/balance). Closing Thoughts In L.A.’s sprawling landscape, there’s no one-size-fits-all for racket stringing. Whether you prefer traditional shops with pro stringers, quick-turnaround local favorites, or the convenience of a mobile tech at your court, these top options have you covered. Keep your game sharp — and your racket sharper.

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! 

As I am traveling back to the east coast this week for the US Open, and to visit my family in Connecticut, I started to reflect on my early years of tennis.     Let me take you back.  It was February of 1992, New England. It was a typical, cold and dreary day in Southern Connecticut, with a chance of 3 feet of snow.  My mom dropped me off, as she always did every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon at the old Trumbull Racquet Club. As I got out of her Chevy Caprice station wagon with my trusty Prince Precision Graphite, I walked through those doors to a warm and friendly place, filled with good green vibes.   I have such fond memories of that club. The wall-to-wall green speckled carpeting, those cozy couches in the lounge area. Photos of tennis legends and club members hanging on the walls.  Tennis was of course always playing on the TV. Like most east coast indoor tennis clubs in its day, there were those plexi glass walls overlooking the tennis courts on both sides. I remember you had to sort of walk down a couple steps, through a narrow hallway, and lift up the tarp to get out onto the courts.  Neon felty fuzzy goodness everywhere.  The club’s director, Dave Fowler, and this young curly blonde haired coach, Andy Jorgenson, were just the best guys. Dave always had a big smile on his face, he was always happy to see me, and I just remember him being very nice and engaging with me.  Andy was this really cool, mellow dude. I always wanted to be playing on Andy's court, as he was just so friggin' cool.  I was doing a little digging on Dave, and was saddened to read that he passed recently.  I dug up this old article in the New York Times  about his coaching, helping improve strokes and lives.  This photo pretty much sums Dave up: Jovial, engaging, warm and friendly.  Long time Connecticut Tennis Coach and Director, Dave Fowler.  I was just one of thousands of kids those guys taught, many of which went on to play high school and college tennis. Those guys were also instrumental in the success of another Fairfield County, CT. kid:  James Blake.    You can say I was "J-Block Adjacent", knowing not only Andy and Dave, but also being friends and high school teammates with Evan Paushter.  Evan was at one time James' hitting partner, and are close friends to this day. Tennis Coach, Andy Jorgenson, seen in front row of The J -Block (hat on, clapping hands).  As for my high school years, Dave and Andy prepped me nicely.  I made it on the varsity squad my freshman year at Joel Barlow High School, in Redding, CT. Oh wait, we only had one team:) For a small school in Southwestern Connecticut, we sure had some bangers on that team, lead by Evan at #1 singles.  We had an amazing female coach, Razan Zia. I tended to be a bit rebellious, maybe lazy at times and she knew how to handle me... How to motivate me. I was a pretty good player, and mainly played 1st and 2nd doubles, winning almost every one of our matches. I made it on the singles squad for a hot minute, but was quickly booted by some young studs.   I am the one wearing the tie dye (wow, nothing has changed since high school!).  Evan is kneeling, right in front of me in the black and white striped windbreaker.   Looking back, I was sort of fortunate I didn't take tennis all that seriously or competitively.  I played on club and intramural teams in college (Indiana University).  I never played enough where I got burned out, like some of my peers did, and have gotten better and somehow became a tennis coach in Los Angeles in my mid-40's.   So, thank you Dave and Andy for keeping things cool and loose.  I try to live my life that way, and are the core values of what Ace the Moon is all about. This one goes out to Dave and Andy, and all you tennis coaches out there.  Love ya~ Oh, and as every good blog should link to a product, our Bubble tee was inspired by the Old Trumbull Racquet Club.  All net proceeds for this tee will go to the James Blake Foundation ~Josh

Tennis fashion has been all the rage these past few years.  Major brands like LuluLemon, Alo and Wilson have gone all-in on tennis inspired apparel and accessories lines.  Vintage tennis fashion has also made a bigtime resurgence. Whether it's the classic knit sweaters with the green striped ribbing, or the beefy oversized graphic tees and sweatshirts, it's "love-all" for the vintage tennis look. For this blog, we collabed with our friends at Vintage Court Collection and curated a top ten list of super rad vintage pieces.  If you are heading to the US Open this year, or maybe putting on a vintage tennis themed watch party with your friends, this blog is for you! #1:)  1998 "Art by McEnroe Heineken T-Shirt (Rare!) We've always known Johnny Mac was a rock star and one of our favorite people on the planet.  We didn't know he was an artist.  This tee just rocks!  #2) 1989 McEnroe/Agassi Maple Leaf Gardens T-Shirt Wow wow this tee is a rare gem.  Two American legends facing off at the 3rd  annual "Proctor Silex Tennis Classic in Toronto.   #3)  1987 UCLA Tennis Camp T-Shirt One of our absolute favorite brands of the 80's and 90's is Chip & Pepper, and it's so great to see their resurgence. This tee has that super soft, worn in feel that only a true vintage tee gives off.    #4) Vintage 1995 Fila US Open tee  We love this oversized tee.  1995 was also an epic year for American tennis, where Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in 4 sets.  #5) Vintage Nike Challenge Sweatshirt It may start to get a little chilly by the second week at The Open.  You may want to consider bringing this killer sweatshirt!   #6) Expert Tennis Patched Hat  Protect yo! heads with this upcycled vintage patch on our classic trucker hat.  This vintage patch will make you the expert tennis player you've always wanted to be!   #7) Official Bjorn Borg Fila Sweatpants  Move like Borg in these iconic sweatpants.  The legendary Swede is still as handsome as ever.      #8) 1993 Minnesota State Boys Championship Tee  This 90's retro graphic just crushes it, on and off the courts.     #9) 1990's Vintage Fila Jacket  This classic women's jacket is perfect for those cooler nights out on the courts or the roller derby.  We love this so friggin' much.   #10) Duke Children's Tennis Dad Hat  This classic hat is also for a good cause!

Tennis in Los Angeles is dynamic.  There are tons of public parks to play in all over the city.  That said, finding the right tennis coach and getting into the right group clinics can often be a bit trickier. So, I wanted to make it a bit easier for all of you tennis enthusiasts who live in Los Angeles, or are traveling here and want to book a session with a pro. This helpful guide should hopefully navigate you through the LA tennis coaching world.  We are only including reputable coaches on this list. That means coaches who are either certified instructors and carry permits for the courts they teach on.   Lisa Filpi: Lisa is a certified USTPA Pro who provides private and group lessons to all ages and skill levels.  She teaches at both the Vermont Canyon Tennis Courts and the Riverside.  (m): 323-573-4230 (e) lafilpi@gmail.com (w) filpitennis.com  Instagram   Pete Fox:  Pete is a long-standing instructor in Santa Monica. He teaches all ages, skill levels, as well as private and group lessons.  Pete runs many of the "community classes" for Santa Monica.  He's what we call a "coaches coach", and an all around awesome guy!  (m): 310-966-0277 (e) pete@petefoxtennis.com (w) petefoxtennis.com   Celia Quintero: Celia teaches all ages and skill levels.  She teaches mainly at the Barrington Rec Center Courts in Brentwood, as well as private courts throughout Los Angeles  (m): 323-573-4230 (e) celia@cqsports.consulting (w) cq-sports.com Social: @cece_q@cq_sports ; @glowballsports   Matt Osterberg Matt is a skilled tennis pro, teaching all ages and skill levels.  His sweet spot is adults and competitive juniors.  He teaches at Beverly Hills Tennis Center, Le Parc Hotel, The Montrose and other private courts.  (m): 231-622-1621 (e) contact@vintagecourtcollection.com instangram.com/matthewwosterberg   Erika Bond: Erika is a super star in the LA tennis world.  She teaches mainly at iTennis in Pasadena, though also does privates and groups throughout the city (mainly on the east side and in South Los Angeles.  She also is the Founder of All Love Racquet Club, a Black-owned tennis social group that runs tennis events nationwide.  (m): 404-579-1692 (e): erikabond08@gmail.com Socials: @thenameisbondd Jem Kogen Hailing from the great state of Massachusetts, Jem has been a certified professional by the USPTA for over 10 years. of all ages and skill levels.  He mainly coaches on the east side of town, through itennis in Pasadena.  He welcomes all ages and skill levels to reach out. He is also an expert tennis stringer, so hit him up for all of your racket needs.  (m): 914-419-4908 (e): jemkogen@gmail.com (w): jemkogentennis.com  Chris Robb: Chris is a lifelong tennis teacher, tennis director and all around lover of the game.  He teaches all ages and skill levels, though his sweetspot is mostly adults.  You can find him teaching all over the city, including his home base in the Pacific Palisades, as well as throughout the east side at Griffith Park and Herman Park in South Pasadena.   (m): 310-428-3777 (e) chris@tennisisalifestyle.com Facebook Page    Gabriel Schwartz Hailing from the streets of New York, Gabriel teaches all ages and skill levels.  He is a permitted instructor in Santa Monica.   (m): 310-728-0664 (e) beverlyhillstennispro.com Thomas Ryu  A Nor-Cal native, Thomas has 10-years teaching experience and teaches all ages and skill levels.  You can usually find him teaching on the westside, in Santa Monica as well at private courts in Playa del Ray. (m): 408-505-2124 (e): thomasryu9@gmail.com Anna Kynclova Hailing from the Czech Republic, Anna always brings the great energy and vibes whenever she's on the court.  She teaches all ages and skill levels, and mainly teaches on the west side of town in Culver City and Santa Monica.  (m): 424-278-3677 Instagram Manny Fortune: Manny is an expert tennis coach and fitness instructor.  He teaches all ages and skill levels, as well as competitive juniors.   (m): 323-979-8114 (e): fortunetennis@gmail.com (w): fortunetennis.com  Socials: Instagram  Josh Gettler: East coast forehands, west coast backhands.  After many years of living and working in NYC, Josh moved west and became a tennis coach.  Josh is a permitted instructor in Santa Monica.  His sweet spot are adults in private or group lessons. (m): 917-304-9279 (e): jwgnyc@gmail.com (w): joshtennis.com

Welcome to my first Ace the Moon blog! My name is Orun, and I am a tennis professional based in Northern California.  For my first Ace the Moon blog contribution, I wanted to write about the best forehands on both the ATP and the WTA Tours.  The forehand is expected to be the number one weapon for tennis players, but there are several professional players who stand out amongst the rest, in my opinion, take it to the next level.  Let’s go through my picks. 1) Rafael Nadal With his signature “buggy whip” forehand, the “king of clay” creates an immense amount of topspin on his forehand. Combined with the bounce on a clay court, Rafa’s opponents often have a hard time hitting the ball at the optimal contact point. The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s inside-out forehand is a scary weapon, too!   2) Carlos Alcaraz   Often called “the next Rafa,” Carlos Alcaraz has already proven to be one of the most aggressive players the tennis world has seen. At 20-years young, and with his intense power, Carlos swings his opponents side to side, creating opportunities for not only tons of winners off his forehand, but drop shots and volleys.    3) Iga Świątek This four-time Grand Slam champion, at just 22 years old, has been dominating the tour. Iga’s famous, 37-match win streak in 2022, has made her climb up the rankings ladder and has made her a superstar. With a compact forehand swing accompanied by high RPM on the ball, her game is fast-paced, and becomes an obstacle for many players. It doesn’t hurt that she is a fellow Tecnifibre user!  4) Jennifer Brady  Currently taking a hiatus from the WTA Tour to focus on her coaching career at UCLA, Brady has always struck me as a phenomenal forehand-hitter. Known for the high RPM on her forehand, she made it into the semi-final of the US Open in 2020, followed by her appearance at the 2021 Australian Open Final. Some have compared her forehand to that of Rafa, noting the similarity in the power and spin. Brady has a larger takeback on her forehand side compared to most other WTA players, efficiently and effectively adding power to her wicked game. 5) Andrey Rublev Known for hitting tennis balls as if he is mad at them, Rublev hits a massive forehand. Despite hitting the ball so hard, he manages to keep the ball in play by hitting it early. It’s quite challenging to observe it unless you pause the TV as he is about to swing his racket. You will see that he likes to hit the ball on the rise, making it harder for his opponents to maintain the rhythm.  Who else do you think should be on this list? Let us know in the comments below!