Hey, I’m Malhar. I’ve coached at country and private clubs, served as an Assistant Coach of Men’s & Women’s Tennis in the NCAA, and worked in academies and tennis centers across the USA and Australia. I’ve also worked with ATP- and WTA-ranked professionals, hold certification from the PTR, and am a member of Tennis Australia.

In the early years of my decade-long coaching journey, I learned how not to teach. To be honest, I wasn’t well-educated in the craft. That changed when I met Steve Smith and Andy Fitzell of GreatBase Tennis. They redefined what it means to be a tennis educator and set me on a path of continuous improvement and learning.

Today, I synthesize their teachings with insights from leading researchers on technique, tennis development, and performance improvement. Influences include Dr. Bruce Elliott, Machar Reid, Dr. Anders Ericsson, Daniel Coyle, and the legendary Vic Braden. I also draw heavily on sports psychology literature to shape my coaching philosophy and programs.

I became so fascinated by the mental side of performance and its impact on athletes that I decided to make a mid-career pivot into sports and performance psychology. This shift has allowed me to combine my coaching experience with a deeper understanding of how psychological principles can drive performance and improvement. Currently, I am a sports psychology practitioner-in-training, pursuing a master’s in sport, exercise, and performance psychology, with plans to earn the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.

Professionally, I’ve managed and grown tennis programs, including as Head of Tennis at Centennial Parklands in Sydney, Australia. There, I led a program that grew from 170 to over 400 players and managed a coaching staff of six. I also run my own coaching business, working with 70+ players online and in person. My experience spans teaching beginners to fine-tuning the games of touring professionals.

As a player, I competed for a Top-15 NAIA-ranked school and achieved the 18th spot in the NJCAA Men’s National Rankings, roughly equating to a UTR of 11. However, I believe a coach’s playing history shouldn’t overshadow their ability to teach effectively, stay informed on the best resources, and help players hit, move, adapt, and compete at their best.

My research interests in sports psychology focus on two seemingly contrasting approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I’m particularly fascinated by attentional focus and how cognitive anxiety impacts the automatic performance of athletes.

If you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to send me a note at [email protected].