About the Eric Hechtman Tennis Academy
at Royal Palm Tennis Club
A Winning Lineup of USPTA Pros.
Eric Hechtman
Tennis Director
As a player, Eric Hechtman grew up in Miami, FL getting Ranked as high as #1 in the state of Florida and #3 in the United States in Boys 18s. I also won 3 high school state championships in a row for Miami Sunset Senior high. From there I went to the University of Miami on a Full scholarship, (50 percent academic and 50 percent athletic). At the University of Miami, Eric was team captain for 3 years and still hold the all-time record for total wins as well as doubles wins. During his final year our team won the ACC championship and finished in the top 10 in the country (2006) best result for the team since.
Eric transitioned into coaching, and continues to play and compete. In 2010 and 2019, Eric won USTA Men’s National Clay Courts. In 2010, he won USPTA National clay courts. There have been numerous other prestigious events Eric has been a part of as a coach, from the Turkey Bowl I Boca, to the Delray Survivor Series as well as the US Open National Playoffs Florida Division. In 2010, He achieved a ranking of #1 in the Mens Open in Florida and the United States in 2010. In 2013, Eric was named USPTA Coach of the year.
He has been coaching Venus Williams since 2019, learning from one of the greatest athletes of all-time. In 2022 he coached both Serena and Venus Williams in a very special memorable chapter of Serena’s career.
Eric has been the Tennis Director of Royal Palm Tennis Club for over a decade where he has developed players from the ground up.
His tennis students have been accepted in an impressive list of colleges across the U.S.:
- Navy
- University of Florida
- University of Miami
- Vanderbilt University
- UCLA
- Tulane University
- Northwestern
- Cornell
- FIU
- University of Loyala New Orleans
- Penn State University
- MIT
- Tufts
- Amherst
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Swarthmore
- Babson College
- Brandeis University
- Middlebury University
- Emory University
- John Hopkins University
- Appalachian State University
- University of Louisville
- FGCU
- Rollins College
- Eckerd College
- Ryder University
Anna Larionova
Anna Larinova (Bastrikova) was born in Moscow, Russia. She graduated from the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sports, Youth and Tourism in 2007 with bachelors’ degrees in Physical Education and Sports as well as Sports Management. She has won many titles in both singles and doubles throughout Mexico, Belarus, Russia, Croatia, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria. In the Pro Circuit, her career high for singles is #301 and #201 for doubles. In the past, she was a member of the Russian Junior Team where she was the European Champion in 2001 for 16 & Under and World Champion in 1999 and 2001 for 14 & Under and 18 & Under. She was also a finalist in the European Junior Individual Championship Doubles in 2003. More recently, Anna was a private coach for the Russian Junior Team as well as the Assistant Coach at Gulliver. She specializes in teaching fundamentals, strategy of the game and related fitness as well as motivating individuals to improve and succeed.
Francisco Montana
Francisco Montana was born and raised in Miami. He was ranked #1 Florida USTA in every division (12’s-18’s) and was an 11-time USTA National champion as well as being ranked #1 in America in singles and doubles as a junior. He graduated from Christopher Columbus Catholic Boys H.S. where he helped the Explorers to their first State championship in school history. In 1987 Francisco began his college career at Georgia where he was an All-American singles player. Francisco reached the semi-finals of the NCAA individual singles championships. He decided he was ready for the ATP Tour and reached a ranking of #4 in the world as a doubles team playing alongside Don Johnson. Francisco reached #100 in the world in singles ATP. He won 2 Masters-Series events in doubles, Monte-Carlo(1997) and Hamburg(1998). Montana qualified twice (1997-98) to the World Tour Finals (Masters). After retiring from the ATP, Francisco began coaching and was named 2006 USPTA Touring Coach of the Year.Personal coach to Alex Bogomolov and responsible for his progression from a world ranking of #878 to #97. Personal coach to Monica Puig and Lauren Albanese (ranked #1 in USTA G18s) Personal coach to Taylor Dent and guided him to a career high ranking of #18 in the world in singles ATP. Personal coach to Robby Ginepri and led him to a career high #15 in the world in singles ATP and a semi-finals appearance at the 2005 US OPEN. Francisco has 3 children who love playing tennis and he enjoys teaching all levels and specializes at incorporating proper technique to all of his students.
Chris Fung
Chris grew up in Miami playing tennis in the Richard Dowling league and USTA events. He graduated from Miami Killian Senior High and completed his college education at Miami Dade Community College, where he received an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. Having three children, Chris understands the patience needed with juniors and beginners on the court. He also excels in communicating with adults on technique and strategy.
Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff
Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff was born and raised in France. His family moved to Weston Florida when he was 15. He completed his high school career at Florida’s Cypress Bay High School, winning three state championships as team captain. He was recruited by the University of Louisville where he played #1 singles and #1 doubles. For his career, Chris was ranked as high as #6 nationally in doubles and as high as #36 in singles. He served as a team captain for Louisville and was tabbed the university’s Freshman and Junior Athlete of the Year. He graduated from Louisville in May,2019 with a bachelor’s degree of Business Administration in Finance. He also played a few professional tournaments and reached a career high of #1322 in the world. He joined the Duke men’s tennis team in August 2019 as a volunteer assistant coach where he helped the team finish top 20. He is very passionate and driven about tennis. Chris enjoys teaching all levels, focuses on excellent technique, tactics, and the mental game to bring players to the next level.
Tom Pudge
Tom’s playing career was highlighted by a top ten ranking in the 35 and over division in the state of Florida. His coaching career includes training and teaching at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy as well as being Head Pro at the Courts of the Falls, West View Country Club and Montana Tennis Club. For 2 years he served as an assistant coach at the University of Miami. In addition, Tom has coached and traveled with several ATP tour players. Under Tom’s guidance Luigi D’Agord won 5 professional tournaments, which culminated with his playing at the 2009 US OPEN. Tom’s international experience includes being the director of tennis at the prestigious club Campestre in San Salvador El Salvador. Happy to be back in Miami Tom is looking forward with excitement to joining the coaching staff at RPTC.
Roeland de Kort
Roeland was born and raised in Aruba. He was the Aruba national champion for six consecutive years and the Netherlands Antilles champion for five years in a row. He was trained by the late great Harry Hopman and has worked extensively with the likes of Spain’s Manolo Santana and Venezuela’s Humphrey Hose. Roeland played his NCAA collegiate years at Southern Illinois University and has a Master’s degree in zoology. He spent twelve years working for the Aruban government as Director of National Parks and as an environmental policy advisor focusing on nature conservation issues. He has proudly worked with various Heads of State, including former HRM Queen Beatrix and the current King of the Netherlands, HRM Willem Alexander. Roeland is a PTR Certified Professional and has been teaching tennis for 32 years. He enjoys being on the court working with students of all ages and levels. He is high up on developing sound technique and great tactics and strategies.
Cliff Martins
Cliff was born in California and raised in Miami’s tennis community. Cliff spent his youth playing in the Richard Dowling league and USTA tournaments as a top 50 junior. He went to Christopher Columbus High School where he played varsity in both Tennis and Basketball for 4 years. He was a District champion in both singles and doubles. Upon graduating, he joined FIU’s Men’s Tennis until he moved to FSU in Tallahassee to continue his education. Upon his return to Miami, he became a Tennis Pro at Fisher Island from 1995-2005. After that, he was a coach at Palmer Trinity High School and ushered the team through District playoffs and to eventually become State Finalists. He has also developed multiple programs for both men and women, forming teams that successfully became USTA District winners and competed at the State level. His love and enthusiasm for the game of Tennis complements his ability to teach and motivate students.
Mirko Radosevic
Mirko Radosevic was born in Locarno, Switzerland. Mirko comes from a Serbian background and moved to Miami when he was 14. He played 4 years of high school tennis at Coral Gables Senior High, where he won 3 state double titles and a team state championship his senior year. Mirko went on to play Division 1 college tennis at Cleveland State University. He was a captain for his last 2 years and led the team to a conference championship his senior year. Mirko graduated with a Bachelors degree in Communication Management and has a Minor in Management and Labor Relations. Mirko always comes out on court with high energy and enthusiasm. He specializes in communicating techniques and strategies with all levels, while creating an enjoyable environment.
Rita Maisak
Rita Maisak was born in St Petersburg, Russia and grew up in Minsk, Belarus playing golf and tennis before making a commitment to tennis at the age of 14. She was ranked number one in Belarus in age groups 12 through 16 and moved to Barcelona, Spain, to continue training. Before being recruited by the NCAA top-20 University of South Carolina in 2007, Rita participated in multiple Junior and Women’s ITF events all over the world, including Junior Fed Cup, Orange Bowl, Brazilian Open etc.
After her freshman year with the South Carolina Gamecocks, Rita transferred to FIU to pursue a degree in Hospitality Management, and was the number 1 & 2 player in both singles and doubles for the team in 2010-2013.
After graduating FIU, Rita decided to continue her education at Moscow State University and was working in the Sports & Hospitality Industry (including the 2014 Winter Olympics) before moving back to Miami in 2016.
Before joining Royal Palm Tennis Club, Rita was coaching at the Flamingo Tennis Club in Miami and the Boulevard Club in Toronto.
Rita has a great passion for the game and enjoys teaching both adults and kids of all ages and levels. She puts big focus on developing players’ technique, endurance and footwork while making every class fun and enjoyable.
Fredrik Moe
Fredrik Moe was born and raised in Moss, Norway. He grew up playing soccer and tennis, but made a commitment to tennis when he was 12 years old. At age 16, Fredrik moved to Oslo, where he attended a private athletic high school in order to practice full time with the Norwegian Tennis Federation. He was ranked top 3 in Norway for juniors ages fourteen through eighteen. He was a part of the “under 16” National Team that played the European Championship in Italy and France and ultimately placed 4th in the championship. He played on the Junior Davis Cup team for Norway in Mexico and placed 9th before committing to play collegiate Division 1 tennis at the University of Louisville.
Fredrik graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Finance. Fredrik has been working as a Tennis Pro at the well known Louisville Tennis Club, where he is very active with Junior Development as well as various USTA Women’s and Men’s tennis teams. He enjoys teaching all levels and taking their game to the next level through hard work, discipline and motivation.
Hans Buse
Hans was born and raised in Lima, Peru and was taught how to play tennis by his father. Hans was a South American Single & Doubles Champion.
Hans was a junior player on the Peru Team, playing tournaments with his Country, in divisions U12 to U18.
He began teaching tennis at the age of sixteen, at his father’s tennis academy. After a brief stint at the Universidad de Lima studying Law & Political Science, Hans decided to be a full-time tennis coach. He obtained certificates of PTR and ITF levels 1, 2 and 3 this in Spain. In addition, in world and regional congresses, workshops, round tables, etc. Hans put his efforts to work as captain of the Peruvian junior team for 20 years. Simultaneously, he served as a Head Pro for 30 years, in well regarded clubs in Lima. Following his entrepreneurial spirit, Hans created his company Buse & Buse Tennis Training and provided tennis training services to public institutions, including the delivery of summer instructional programs to 840 students as Head Pro for the Peruvian Tennis Federation. He was part of the Peruvian Tennis Federation as a National Tutor dictating the ITF Level 1 course, years later a member of the Junior commission. Hans coashed his son, Ignacio to earning titles in the Little Mo Championships, 3 years in a row, in singles, doubles and mixed. He also served as captain of the South American U12 Championship team, where his Ignacio earned the #1 position and a fourth place in the U14 World Team Championship in Prostejov, Czech Republic. Ignacio was also the 2021 runner-up Orange Bowl U16, runner-up in U18 doubles at Roland Garros, and a semifinalist in Junior doubles at the US Open.
Hans continues to coach his son aiming for college tennis play and a future career as a touring pro, where he is currently ATP ranking 892 in singles and 593 in doubles. He moved to Florida in 2019. He enjoys teaching all levels, and is dedicated to bring out the best in every player and lives in Miami with sons Alexander, Ignacio and wife Betty.
Bill Stover
Chris Correra
Chris Correa was born in Chile and raised in Miami. During a successful junior tennis career, he played #1 for Miami Sunset Sr High and was ranked #6 in 1989 USTA Florida Boys 18 Doubles. He went to Troy State University (TSU) in Alabama on a tennis scholarship. In his senior year, he became assistant coach of TSU Women’s tennis team. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology.
In 1995, Chris returned to Miami and became USPTA certified. He began working at Continental Tennis Center, where for the next 27 years (1995-2022) he would go on to teach and train players of all ages and levels, organize group clinics and summer camps, and coach in USTA Adult Leagues. He also taught at JV Tennis in Alexander Montessori School (2017-2019).
Chris coached WTA player Rachel Viollet (2000-2002) guiding her to the 2001 US Open, 2002 Wimbledon, and a WTA ranking of #200 in the world. He has been a traveling coach for many nationally ranked Florida juniors, making stops at Kalamazoo, Easter Bowl, Winter Nationals, Clay Court Nationals, International Grass Courts and Orange Bowl.
In 2008, Chris became an NASM Certified Personal Trainer and began working out of Thump Gym in Miami. He has gained valuable experience training young athletes, adults, and the elderly through the Silver Sneakers Fitness Program (2015-2020). He has developed a tennis-specific fitness method for players of all ages and levels to achieve optimal performance on the court, with an emphasis on flexibility, joint and core stability, low-impact exercises, and injury prevention. He has worked with current WTA players Adriana Reami and Rasheeda McAdoo.
For more information or to arrange a visit and tour of Royal Palm Tennis Club, please call the club at 305-661-3350 or contact us today.
*Some restrictions apply to non-member services.