Axis Tennis was founded with a clear mission: to provide a comprehensive platform for aspiring college tennis players to develop their skills, academics and character. Their unique approach combines world-class tennis coaching with a rigorous academic support system to ensure students meet the requirements of top universities.
They specialize in student admissions to top universities and have developed a niche by leveraging their extensive network of coaches, advisors, teachers and alumni. Their network, combined with a personalized approach to understanding the athlete’s academic background and career goals, has been instrumental in guiding our students through the complex college admissions process.
Tennis View Magazine recently spoke with the founders of Axis Tennis.
Please tell us a little about the owners/founders of Axis Tennis and their background.
Axis Tennis was founded by Shariq Khan and Chris Begg, both of whom bring extensive experience and a deep passion for tennis to the academy. A seasoned coach and mentor, Shariq Khan has been actively involved in tennis for a long time. 20 Over the years, he has successfully coached numerous athletes at the collegiate and professional levels. His expertise lies in understanding how to use tennis as a pathway to admission to prestigious educational institutions. Over the years, Shariq has helped many student-athletes navigate the complex college admissions process, enabling them to excel both on the court and in the classroom.
Co-founder Chris Begg has worked with players of all ages and genders, many of whom have gone on to rise to the top. 50 ATP/WTA player. He holds some of the highest coaching qualifications worldwide and previously worked as a leading developmental coach at Spain’s prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy, where he worked with Toni Nadal. Chris’ extensive experience in player development has been instrumental in creating a training environment at Axis Tennis that fosters success at the highest levels of the sport.
How did the idea for Axis Tennis come about? What prompted them to create it?
The concept of Axis Tennis was born from the shared vision of Shariq Khan and Chris Begg to create a tennis academy that goes beyond simply improving on-court performance. They identified the need for a comprehensive approach to tennis training that integrates elite coaching with a focus on personal growth, education and long-term career planning. The two founders were driven by their experience working with young athletes and their desire to create a program that supports well-rounded individuals who are prepared to excel not only as athletes, but in all aspects of their lives.
What is the philosophy of Axis Tennis?
Axis Tennis’ philosophy focuses on building a versatile and functional support system for each player to ensure success on and off the court. Although technical skills and physical conditioning are essential, we place equal importance on academic achievement, including academics and academics. sat down/action preparation. What sets Axis Tennis apart is its team of highly qualified teachers. Many of them played college tennis at Ivy League or other prestigious universities. They have a unique understanding of the academic and athletic demands facing student-athletes and strive to reconcile these areas to maximize the potential for college recruiting and scholarship opportunities.
The founders are committed to fostering excellence in education and athletics through a comprehensive support system. Each player has a head tennis coach, fitness trainer, physiotherapist, academic teacher, sat down/action I am a preparation expert and college admissions counselor. This collaborative approach ensures coordination and accountability, all working toward the shared goal of player success.
What are some of the challenges athletes face during the college admissions process?
Navigating the college admissions process can be overwhelming for young tennis players and their families. Common challenges include understanding recruiting schedules, balancing academic and athletic goals, and communicating effectively with college coaches. Many players have trouble deciding where to start and often underestimate the importance of excelling in both academics and tennis. As a result, some student-athletes attend schools that aren’t recognized by top universities, take courses that don’t align with their long-term goals, or participate in tournaments that have little value. This is often due to a lack of synergy between the student-athlete’s environment and goals, and tennis coaches are sometimes unaware of their players’ academic progress.
How can Axis Tennis help in this process?
Axis Tennis offers a comprehensive college recruiting program designed to simplify the complex college placement process for players. With years of expertise and strong connections to college coaches across the country, Axis provides customized guidance to help each athlete find the right fit for their academic and athletic goals.
The process begins with a detailed, individualized assessment to understand each player’s unique goals. A customized plan is then developed with the support of a multi-disciplinary team of experts dedicated to player success. The team includes a tennis coach, academic teacher, sat down/action Tutor, physiotherapist, fitness coach. Each member plays an important role in helping players achieve their goals.
Tennis coaches who work with players daily maintain close communication regarding athletic and academic progress. This comprehensive approach allows you to hone your technical skills while placing equal focus on your academic responsibilities. This balance is very important for those who want to leverage their tennis skills to get into top colleges.
Can you share your success story?
Axis Tennis has a long history of helping players achieve success in college and professionally. Several of our players have reached the top ranks in recent years. 20 of ITF While some are ranked world juniors, others have gone on to prestigious universities such as Harvard, Duke, and Stanford. We’ve also helped athletes launch their professional careers, with some making significant progress. 1,000 spot of ATPRank within 1 year.
Additionally, for the past four years in a row, Axis Tennis has had at least one player participate in the competition. us. open. Many of our alumni include Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, USC, UCLAand Dartmouth, reflecting the strength of the university’s recruiting program. These achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of our integrated approach to player development and our commitment to excellence on and off the court.
What is your college success rate?
we are 100% success rate in placing players into college programs. Our expertise lies in guiding athletes to admission to the best educational institutions. This year we are working with athletes aiming to gain admission to the following highly selective schools: MITJohns Hopkins, California Institute of Technology. These institutions are known for their rigorous admissions criteria, and our programs provide students with the guidance and resources they need to navigate this competitive process.
What are Axis Tennis’ future goals?
Axis Tennis’ future goals are focused on expanding its impact on player development and college transition while continuing to improve the overall experience for players. We aim to strengthen our reputation as a leading academy that excels not only in nurturing the best tennis talent, but also in guiding our students to prestigious institutions.
Looking ahead, we plan to strengthen our partnerships with universities, expand access to state-of-the-art training facilities, and further innovate our comprehensive approach to player development. Our goal is to provide balanced support across all aspects of physical, technical, academic, and mental preparation, ultimately enabling all student-athletes to reach their full potential in both on-court and academic endeavors.
