Tennis
Here at the J’s state-of-the-art Sarver Tennis Center, we offer open play, tennis lessons for people of all ages, clinics for adults, and youth and adult group tennis training, and events like ACEing Autism, for players at all skill levels. Our experienced, professional tennis pros utilize strategic techniques, including the incorporation of sports psychology, to help athletes strengthen their on-court performance, meeting every player where they are. The Sarver Tennis Center was completed in 2020 with six full-size courts and three junior tennis courts (the only courts of this kind in Tucson!) built with professional-grade Laykold Masters material — whether a novice or nationally-ranked competitor, you’ll feel like a star player on the courts at the J. While our tennis offerings are open to the public, J members can reserve a court for free and get discounts on lessons, clinics, and group training programs.
Sarver Tennis Center Hours of Operation
Summer Hours
April 1-Oct 31
MONDAY – THURSDAY
5:30am-9pm
FRIDAY
5:30am-6pm
SATURDAY – SUNDAY
6am-6pm
Winter Hours
Nov 1-March 31
MONDAY – THURSDAY
6:30am-9pm
FRIDAY
6:30am-6pm
SATURDAY – SUNDAY
7am-6pm
Open-Play Tennis Hours
TUESDAY
7am-8:30pm
Need to restring your racquet? A Tucson J Pro can help!
We offer many different varieties of strings. Stringing/Restringing will occur within 24-48 hours. Racquets dropped off on Saturday + Sunday will be completed the following week. Cost varies from $18-$42.
Contact: tennis@tucsonjcc.org for more information.
Youth Tennis
Youth Tennis Group Training
Our Youth Tennis programs are catered to develop foundational and technical skills necessary for excelling at the game. With programs for Peewee, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Competition Team (ACT), our instructors can meet the athletes right where they are and help elevate their games.
Adult Tennis
Adult Tennis Group Training
The Tucson J offers a range of adult tennis group training and clinics for players of all levels. Whether you are a beginner who has never stepped foot on a tennis court before or a nationally ranked competitor, you will find something to challenge you in one of our training programs.
Adult Tennis Clinics
The Tucson J offers a range of daily clinics for players of all levels. These clinics are designed to enhance your game and are a great opportunity to build solid technique and learn new skills, meet new people and have fun! Join us on the court for Drill & Play, High Intensity Tennis Training, or Ladies’ Team Practice daily clinics!
Tennis Xpress
Mondays beginning April 18 at 6:30pm for six-weeks. Tennis Xpress is an easy, active, and fun 6-week clinic that aims to introduce tennis to all adults so that they can play the game as soon as possible! By the end of the clinic, all participants will know the basic techniques, tactics, rules, and will be able to play competitive points using a Green ball on a full court. For the purpose of this clinic, adult starter players are defined as those who: are complete beginners to tennis and who have never played tennis before, or; who have received basic coaching but have never played the game outside of a coaching environment, or; beginners returning to tennis after a long absence. Tennis Xpress is a supporting program of the International Tennis Federation ‘Play and Stay’ campaign.
Private Lessons + Events
Private Tennis Lessons for all ages
Do you prefer more individualized instruction? Our highly skilled pros offer private tennis lessons for all ages and levels, and can be catered to fit your schedule. Available in 30, 60, or 90-minute sessions in packages of 5, 10, or 20, players can work on strategic and technical skills to sharpen their game and maximize their potential.
ACEing Autism: Tennis Program for Kids with Autism
ACEing Autism is on a mission for children with autism to grow, develop and benefit from social connections and fitness through affordable tennis programming, uniquely serving individual needs while filling a national void for this growing and worthy population. We are thrilled to be working with ACEing Autism to bring this program to Tucson! Click here for more information about registration and here to volunteer.
Meet the Pros
Amanda Reller
IPTPA Certified Instructor, built a flourishing pickleball program in Tucson before joining the JCC family. Having played softball during college and beyond, she loves applying students’ past sports experience to their pickleball game. A product of the Midwest, Amanda is happy to now live in a place where she can play and teach outside year-round. She is honored to help instill the joy of racquet sports as a lifelong pursuit here at the J.
Phillip Lepisto
(he/him)
Coach Phil gained his love of tennis in his father’s tennis program at the age of 4. In 2004 his family moved from Phoenix to Tucson where he continued to advance as a student of the game, playing USTA tournaments and later varsity tennis for Ironwood Ridge High School. He began teaching tennis in 2008 at the age of 14 and since has had the opportunity to teach tennis all around the Tucson area including Westward Look Resort, Skyline Country Club, and more recently The Tanque Verde Ranch and Omni Tucson National. He has extensive experience in teaching players of all levels, ages, and goals. Phil’s passion for learning about tennis is only matched by his passion for teaching and instilling the love of tennis in his students.
James Madruga
From his early days as an avid fan, tennis has been a source of joy, health, and spirted competition for James. After earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Fresno State and entering the hospitality industry he’d forgotten the importance of tennis in his life. It was only after he and his family relocated to Tucson and he began working in education, he rediscovered the benefits of tennis. When given the opportunity to share his experiences he did so as the Varsity Boy’s Tennis Coach at Flowing Wells High School. Since 2015 as a NFHS trained coach, he has demonstrated technique and imparted the necessary skills to countless individuals allowing them to fully enjoy a sport that will bring them a lifetime of benefit. The Sarver Tennis Center at the J is now allowing him to bring tennis to so many more. Through a lifetime of study, he has discovered that one of the many beautifully nuanced aspects of tennis is that the techniques required for success vary for all. From the very beginning, he has been a student of the sport studying the technical aspects of every step, stroke, and position of the game. This has allowed him to create individualized programs for all.
Chuck Reisig
With more than 30 years of teaching experience as a USPTA Certified Elite Pro, Chuck sets the standard for professionals through his commitment to the tennis-teaching profession and has 215 hours of continuing education credits through the USPTA. His coaching philosophy incorporates all the sport sciences including; sports medicine, biomechanics, motor learning, sports psychology, nutrition, and sports physiology. Chuck spends his summers in Harbor Springs Michigan where he is the Director of Racquets at Birchwood Farms CC. Chuck is with us at the J from November to April. Previously to that, he was the head pro at La Paloma Country Club and Ventana Country Club and was an assistant coach for the University of Arizona Men's Tennis Team. He received his BSBA from the University of Arizona in 1987. "The same things that mess us up in life are the same things that mess us up on the court. Fear, Self Doubt, and Hesitation. Committing to your shots and your game plan is a formula for more fun and success on the court."
Giuliana Rodriguez
Giuli Rodriguez discovered tennis at the age of 13, and played on the varsity team at Salpointe High School for 3 years. While in high school, she also played at the Nike Tennis Camp at Stanford University. While recoperating from a knee injury, Giuli expanded her skillset to include coaching tennis, and has coached 10 and under kids for 2 years at the Reffkin Tennis Center. In June of 2022, Giulianna completed her USTA coaching training and is available for private lessons in Spanish or English for beginner kids.
Emma Oropeza
Emma Oropeza, though new to the J, is no stranger to intense competition on the court. Hailing from Nogales, she played for Pima Community College for two years and Western New Mexico University for one year before returning to Tucson during the pandemic. She has taught camps in Nogales and TGA Sports in Tucson and is excited to work with the athletes at the J.
Alec Gee
Alec Gee has coached tennis for over 15 years at various clubs and resorts in Tucson. He has worked with a wide range of levels and ages, from beginners to Division I athletes. Alec focuses on the strategic approach to tennis, building upon a player’s strengths and pinpointing opportunities that can result in an elevated level of play. As a competitor, he was known for exceptional defense, mental toughness, and the ability to quickly find and exploit the weaknesses of opponents. Alec holds a business degree from the UofA’s Eller College of Management.
Adrian Bello
Adrian Bello was introduced to tennis in Cuba, when he was five years old. The sport has remained a part of his life ever since. While attending Ballard High School he played on the varsity tennis team, which reached the quarterfinals at the Kentucky State Championship his junior year. Adrian’s tennis experience is quite extensive and includes playing for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (ranked 4th in the country), running a summer tennis camp with his brother which remains operational in Kentucky, and working 5 years at the Louisville Racquet Club and 5 months at the Reffkin Tennis Center. When he was 15, Adrian began coaching tennis at the tennis club where he regularly practiced. Today, Adrian keeps busy training and playing in tournaments. Adrian is available for coaching in both Spanish and English.
Stacy Vogwell
Stacy was first introduced to tennis as a toddler in NY. She trained and played until age 17, her final years training at the US Open tennis facilities in Flushing Meadows, Queens. She holds a degree in Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology, and worked as a photographer and producer until 2018, when she started coaching tennis in Portland Oregon for the USTA. Shortly after, Stacy became a USPTA Certified Professional Tennis Instructor, and worked in various schools and tennis facilities around Portland. In 2020, she moved with her family to Tucson and has been active teaching, coaching, directing tournaments and coordinating leagues. She thoroughly enjoys coaching all levels of players, focusing on footwork, technique, and strategy - all while having as much fun as possible! She loves her dogs and enjoys cooking and playing billiards.
Tennis FAQ
Bryan Bello
Bryan started coaching tennis at the age of 16 and has been a USPTR certified coach since 2016. He is the youngest person to ever win the State of Kentucky Tennis Pro of the Year Award. In 2001, Bryan was the Assistant Coach for the Boys and Girls Tennis Team at Ballard High School, and he created a summer tennis camp in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, which is now run by two Division I coaches. Additionally, Bryan has worked for USTA KY providing tennis programs for many middle schools and parks. He has had the opportunity to work side by side with Kentucky Tennis Hall of Famer, Bruce Stone, and was a volunteer for the Rising Stars of Kentucky Tennis and USTA Tennis Awareness program during the Kentucky Derby. He also worked both as an Assistant and Head Coach for USTA Shelby County Tennis Program. For six years prior to moving to Tucson, Brian worked at the Louisville Indoor Racquet. He is currently studying to become an NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist. Bryan is available to coach in English and Spanish.
Tennis is a sport for life, and the Tucson J is a destination for tennis players of all levels. Our new tennis group training programs take place on some of the newest and best-maintained tennis courts in Tucson and allow players to train with our incredible coaches, all while progressing at their own pace. Learn more about our tennis group training program below, and we’ll see you on the courts!
Looking for more casual group play? You might be interested in one of our daily clinics.
Want more solo time? Private tennis lessons may be for you!
Tennis group programming is open to everyone in the community, but we offer a discount for J members. For information about membership fees and benefits, click here.
When you register, you sign up to play on specific days. In the case of an unexpected absence, we will try to schedule a make-up session (if available). If you want more play time (without a coach), we recommend becoming a member or getting our Sarver Saver Pass for free play time. If you would like to spend more time working with one of our coaches, we offer private lessons for an additional fee.
Yes, as long as there is space available. In order to offer the highest quality instruction, we try to keep the groups evenly matched, so you might be asked to switch to a different level. Your progress is always our priority!
We do! We currently offer three daily clinics for adults (youth players may be allowed to participate with coach approval in advance). All daily clinics take place in the mornings. You can see more details and register here.
We offer private lessons seven days a week for players of all levels and ages. Please contact the Sarver Tennis Center for more details or to schedule your lesson.