Elite Tennis Academy

A rising high performance hub on Mexico’s Pacific coast

Elite Tennis Academy is a young, ambition filled program based inside Lemon Park, a private rackets club in Puerto Escondido on the coast of Oaxaca. It operates as a residential and destination training base for juniors and competitive players who want an immersive setting with year round sunshine, sea level conditions, and an integrated team that covers the court, the gym, and the mind. Families will notice that the academy positions itself for serious development yet maintains an approachable, family style culture where coaches and players spend time together beyond scheduled sessions. The tone is purposeful without feeling corporate, and the environment rewards athletes who value attention to detail.

Founding story and leadership

The academy highlights the leadership of Iván Endara, an Ecuadorian former professional who spent years competing on the ATP and ITF circuits and represented Ecuador in Davis Cup. The staff reflects the academy’s compact profile, with coaches who divide responsibilities between technical work, movement, and mental preparation. That smaller footprint is deliberate. The intent is to avoid a factory model and instead create a setting where the staff knows each athlete’s patterns, training history, and goals.

Families should also be aware of an important governance note. In September 2024, the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced a five year suspension for Endara, effective July 26, 2024 through July 25, 2029, related to admitted breaches of the Tennis Anti Corruption Program tied to matches in 2017 and 2018. During this period he is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any event authorized or sanctioned by tennis governing bodies. This does not automatically prohibit private coaching outside sanctioned environments. It is wise to ask the academy how responsibilities are delegated for tournament travel and for any engagement at sanctioned events. Clear answers about who travels, who coaches on match days, and how oversight works will give families confidence in day to day operations.

Why the setting matters: Puerto Escondido’s climate and access

Puerto Escondido sits near sea level on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. The climate trends warm to hot, with a long stretch of playable weather that supports two sessions most days of the year. For tennis, sea level means truer ball trajectories, more predictable bounce, and recovery between points that is easier than at altitude. Players can log high rep days with realistic match tempos, and servers often see immediate feedback in speed and location rather than fighting the thinner air common in many training hubs.

Access has improved. A newer highway between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido has cut overland transit time to around two and a half hours, and the local airport handles domestic routes that connect through Mexico City, Monterrey, and Oaxaca. For international families, that combination simplifies arrivals, departures, and mid season returns home. For tournament blocks, better roads also reduce travel fatigue, which can be the hidden tax on a competitive calendar.

Facilities: compact, walkable, and practical

Elite Tennis Academy trains and boards inside Lemon Park, a private club in the La Lucerna area. The campus is compact and walkable, which is quietly one of its best features. Athletes move from dorms to courts to the gym in minutes, so the day is spent training rather than commuting. The club includes multiple outdoor tennis courts with varied surfaces, a fitness center with free weights and functional training zones, squash courts, an on site pro shop, and a relaxed clubhouse where players can reset between blocks.

Boarding is integrated. Dormitory style rooms sit close to the courts. Air conditioned common rooms give students a quiet place for online classes and study. A cafeteria handles meals with predictable schedules, and there is reliable Wi Fi across the living and training areas. Given the heat, a pool is a genuine performance asset, useful for contrast work and evening recovery. Families who value structure will appreciate that most needs are met inside one perimeter.

A quick note on local context for families who plan extra hitting outside academy hours. Typical public or club court rentals in the area have historically been quoted in a modest range per hour, with higher rates under lights. These local costs are separate from academy tuition but help set expectations for add on sparring or private sessions arranged directly with the club.

Coaching staff and working style

This is a program built around close contact between coaches and players. The roster is intentionally small, which increases the share of live ball coaching rather than long stretches of static basket feeding. Sessions are paced to move from targeted technical reps into live application with specific goals, such as first ball patterns or depth control after the return. Strength and conditioning specialists supervise movement quality, not just load. You will see footwork patterns rehearsed under light fatigue, then immediately tested in scenario drills.

Mental skills are part of the weekly rhythm rather than a separate add on. Breathing, between point resets, and self talk are taught explicitly. Yoga appears on the schedule for mobility, range, and downregulation. The day tends to start early due to heat and ends early enough to protect sleep, which the staff treats as a performance variable on par with nutrition and hydration.

Programs and who they serve

The academy’s core menu covers several formats so families can match commitment and timing:

• Full Time training for committed juniors and aspiring pros, with boarding and an integrated schedule across the court, gym, and mental skills.
• Pre Tournament preparation blocks that tune patterns, serve targets, and match play before competition weeks.
• Weekly Intensives for visitors who want a focused push during school breaks or seasonal travel.
• Daily Training options for short stays or targeted technical fixes.
• Summer or holiday camps that blend morning training with time to enjoy the beaches and recover in the afternoons.

Academics are supported through online study. The staff is familiar with coordinating sessions around virtual classes, which is important for international families managing different school calendars. Tournament accompaniment is part of the value proposition. Families should ask to see an annual calendar with the targeted events, the travel plan, and how player to coach ratios are handled during those weeks.

Training and development philosophy

The academy’s approach blends repetition with decision making under pressure. The following themes show up consistently:

• Technical development: The staff targets contact point stability, compact preparation, and footwork patterns suited to hard court tennis at sea level. Work on serve mechanics prioritizes shoulder health, rhythm, and a toss window that holds up in wind. When shifting onto grippier surfaces inside the club, players are coached to adjust shape and recovery steps rather than overhaul the stroke.

• Tactical training: Drills pressure plus one patterns, depth off the return, and neutral ball management. Situational scoring is common. Players rehearse plan A and plan B for their most frequent matchups, such as heavier forehand baseliners or counterpunchers who live on depth and shape. Video and charting are used to capture where points actually turn, then plans are simplified into one or two cues that the player can carry on court.

• Physical preparation: Strength and conditioning sessions focus on movement quality, posterior chain durability, and heat management. Instead of chasing maximal loads, the staff builds seasonal progressions that protect hamstrings and hips while preserving court speed. Hydration, electrolyte strategies, and cooling are treated as curriculum, not afterthoughts.

• Mental skills and recovery: A designated sports psychologist supports routine building, match day mental plans, and post match review. Yoga and breath work are used for range, balance, and nervous system recovery. Sleep and nutrition are tracked with the same seriousness as on court volume.

Competition pathways and planning

The academy positions itself for athletes who intend to compete in Mexico and beyond. Within Puerto Escondido and the wider Oaxaca region there are local tournaments and club events, and improved travel links make access to stronger national draws more practical than in previous years. Families focused on UTR and ITF exposure should request a clear plan that outlines which sanctioned events the staff will attend and how coaching coverage works during the current leadership ineligibility period. The goal is to ensure that training quality carries into match weeks with consistent voices on court warmups and post match debriefs.

Alumni, track record, and momentum

As a newer program, Elite Tennis Academy highlights a mix of developing players at junior and early professional levels. Examples include Canadian player Dasha Plekhanova, who has posted results on the ITF women’s circuit and reached a professional final in the United States in 2025, alongside Mexican juniors who are gaining experience in regional events. The trajectory suggests a pipeline that blends local talent with visiting athletes who use Puerto Escondido as a training base for parts of the year.

Culture, daily life, and supervision

Lemon Park operates like a genuine club rather than a theme park. Players see familiar faces at breakfast, on the courts, and in the evening common rooms. That familiarity builds accountability. Dorm life is structured with curfews and supervision. The cafeteria reduces decision fatigue around meals, and Wi Fi supports online school and calls home. Evenings are quiet because early starts and heat nudge the schedule earlier in the day. Families should ask about supervision ratios in the dorms, airport transfer policies, and how off campus time is handled.

Costs, access, and scholarships

The academy does not publish tuition. Prices vary based on program length, boarding, and tournament travel. When you request a quote, ask for an itemized breakdown that includes weekly court hours, gym sessions with supervision, mental skills support, boarding and meals, laundry arrangements, local transport, and the number of supervised match play hours. Clarify private lesson availability and rates, as well as any add ons for physiotherapy or massage.

For context, general court rental in Puerto Escondido has historically been modest by global standards. Families who plan extra hitting should confirm current club rates, which are separate from academy fees. Ask whether partial scholarships or need based discounts are offered and how they are allocated. If financial aid exists, request the criteria, application timeline, and any obligations tied to travel or local volunteering.

What makes Elite Tennis Academy different

• Sea level training and heat adaptation all year, which supports serve speed, realistic point tempo, and recovery between points that mirrors competition conditions.
• A compact, walkable campus inside a private club, so athletes spend their energy training instead of commuting.
• Integrated support that includes mental skills, supervised strength and conditioning, and yoga to translate practice quality into match performance.
• Access to varied court surfaces within one venue, with a resident club community that hosts regular events and attracts visiting players.
• A small staff that knows each player personally, improving feedback loops for juniors who need hands on guidance and consistent messaging.

Families comparing options in Mexico often look at the resort based model. For that context, the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Costa Mujeres shows what a destination environment with broader amenities can feel like. If you prefer a large, established campus in the United States with deep in house competition, consider the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy. If you want a West Coast base with a similar focus on tournament travel and high school coordination, the Advantage Tennis Academy in Irvine provides a useful comparison point.

Practical questions to ask on a visit

• Who leads day to day on court work, who supervises the gym, and who owns mental skills planning for each athlete
• How are responsibilities allocated for sanctioned events during the current leadership ineligibility period, and who travels with players
• What is the weekly balance between technical reps, live ball, points, and match play blocks
• How are player development plans written, how often are they reviewed, and how are parents kept in the loop
• What do player to coach ratios look like on court, in the gym, and on tournament trips
• What is the supervision structure in the dorms, including curfews, room checks, and weekend policies
• How does the academy handle injuries, physiotherapy, and return to play progressions
• How does online schooling fit into the daily schedule, and what quiet study spaces are available

Future outlook and vision

With better road access and growing air links, Puerto Escondido is easier to reach than it was a few years ago. That should expand the academy’s visitor pool for Weekly Intensives and Summer programs while also simplifying tournament logistics. Over the next few seasons, growth will likely hinge on three things. First, publishing a clear tournament calendar with defined coaching coverage. Second, continuing to add specialist staff who can keep ratios low as the player base expands. Third, deepening relationships with regional federations and event organizers so athletes have a predictable pathway from local competition to national and international draws.

There is also an opportunity to formalize data and video workflows. As the roster grows, lightweight match charting and periodic video reviews can preserve the intimacy of a small program even as the headcount rises. Families should watch for these process tools to become part of the academy’s identity.

The bottom line

Choose Elite Tennis Academy if you want a small, hands on environment where coaches will see you play daily, correct you on the spot, and then take you to compete. The sea level setting is helpful if your goals include higher ball speeds, improved serve numbers, and learning to construct points at realistic match tempo. The boarding setup and Wi Fi make online school practical, and the compact campus keeps transitions short so training minutes turn into quality reps.

If your priority is a larger institution with on site academics and a dense calendar of in house events, compare this option with big campus programs. If you are comfortable with a tight knit club community and the surf town pace of Puerto Escondido, this academy offers a focused platform to build habits that hold under pressure. With clear planning around tournament travel and ongoing transparency about leadership roles during the current ineligibility period, Elite Tennis Academy has the ingredients to keep ascending while delivering a personal touch that is increasingly rare in high performance tennis.