Khachatryan Tennis Academy

A family legacy on the courts of Burbank

Walk into the Burbank Tennis Center on a busy afternoon and you will likely spot a Khachatryan coach feeding balls with a sharp eye, stopping a rally to tweak a shoulder angle, or asking a junior to call out a target before striking the next serve. Khachatryan Tennis Academy is not a walled campus far from town but a focused, family-led program built inside one of Southern California’s most active public tennis hubs. Founded in 1990 by Harout Khachatryan, a former top 20 professional in the Soviet Union and a longtime national team coach, the academy has grown under the leadership of his son, Andranik, into a modern training environment that blends old-school court craft with current sport science and day-to-day mentorship.

Over three decades, the Khachatryans have shaped a coaching identity that values precision, repetition with purpose, and the human side of player development. The tone is warm but direct. Players are reminded that progress shows up in small habits, not only in big results. It is an academy where the founder still walks the courts, the director knows each junior by name, and the staff stays late for match debriefs after local tournaments.

Founding story and evolution

Harout began by coaching a handful of competitive juniors who needed disciplined fundamentals and real match preparation. Word-of-mouth growth followed. As the player base expanded, the academy added structured junior groups and small high-performance squads. Andranik, who competed collegiately at San Diego State University, formalized the weekly training rhythm, integrating physical preparation, deliberate live ball, and match play ladders. Today the academy keeps its footprint intentionally lean so coaches can remain hands-on. The goal is steady skill compounding rather than dramatic one-off makeovers.

Why Burbank works for year-round tennis

Burbank sits in the eastern San Fernando Valley, a pocket of Los Angeles that enjoys a long tennis season. Outdoor play is viable almost every day of the year. Winters are mild, and although summers bring heat, evening sessions under the lights are a staple. Wind can pick up in the afternoons, and managing it becomes part of the education. For developing players, this climate means more live ball repetitions, more point play, and fewer interruptions to the training rhythm.

The Burbank Tennis Center, located in McCambridge Park, anchors a community of league players, juniors, and adult clinics. That energy matters. A high-performance junior can finish drills, jump into supervised match play, or scout older players trading heavy crosscourts on a neighboring court. For families, the location is practical. Parking is easy, the Courtside Caffe handles snacks and recovery meals, and the surrounding park gives siblings space to move while practice is underway.

Facilities the academy uses

Khachatryan Tennis Academy operates out of the Burbank Tennis Center, giving players access to multiple outdoor hard courts with lights, restroom facilities, and an on-site cafe. The center is a city facility, so it is not a closed campus; instead, the academy runs dedicated court blocks for groups, squads, and privates. That set-up creates a steady stream of hitting partners and real-world match opportunities. While this is not a residential program with dorms or an internal gym, the coaches organize off-court strength and movement sessions on-site or nearby, focusing on the work that directly transfers to play: acceleration, deceleration, lateral change of direction, shoulder care, and tennis-specific conditioning.

Technology is used selectively. Video on court is part of the coaching toolkit when the staff needs to slow a movement down or compare a before and after sequence. More important than gadgets is the feedback loop. Every drill has a cue, each cue has an intended outcome, and players learn to self-correct.

A typical training day

There is no single template, but a common training block might look like this:

• Dynamic warm-up and mobility, emphasizing hips, ankles, and thoracic spine, followed by short acceleration and deceleration patterns.
• Technical focus, such as controlled forehand direction changes, measured by clear targets and ball height windows.
• Live ball progression that raises the intensity and decision load, like neutral crosscourt hold into planned change of direction.
• Serve and return frameworks, with time and target constraints.
• Conditioning finisher that mirrors match demands rather than arbitrary tests.
• Brief debrief to journal cues and set goals for the next session.

The coaching team and what they believe

The academy’s coaching DNA starts with founder Harout Khachatryan. His experience spans professional play in the Soviet era and leadership roles with national teams, which shows up in the discipline of the sessions and the respect for fundamentals. Andranik Khachatryan directs the daily program. He is hands-on, often on court for both morning and evening blocks, setting the tone for how the squads train and behave.

A senior staff of coaches complements that leadership with a range of expertise in high-performance junior development, collegiate pathway preparation, and applied sport psychology. The academy places real weight on mindset and decision-making. Players are taught to build points with intention, to play a percentage-based style that still expresses their own strengths, and to evaluate performance with objective markers instead of emotion. There is a clear expectation that juniors handle the basics well: prepared footwork patterns, stable contact through the ball, and predictable first-serve patterns backed by a reliable serve plus one.

Coaching philosophy in one line: teach players to think clearly, move efficiently, and execute patterns that hold under pressure.

Programs you can expect

• Junior development groups. Age and level-based sessions that teach clean mechanics, spacing to the ball, contact height management, and a usable toolbox for rallies. Younger players learn through high-touch, game-based progressions. As they advance, sessions add directional control, depth tolerance, and transition skills.
• High-performance junior squads. For tournament players, the academy runs multi-day blocks that weave drilling, live ball, set play, and physical work into a coherent week. Themes are specific and rotate: neutral crosscourt tolerance, inside-out forehand windows, backhand to backhand hold, plus serve and return frameworks. Players practice under time and target constraints, then test those skills in structured sets.
• Private and semi-private coaching. One-to-one or small groups for targeted gains. These sessions are where grips, racket path, stance choices, and contact shapes are refined. The staff uses video when a movement pattern needs a visual breakdown and prescribes individualized footwork ladders, cone patterns, or medicine ball progressions to support the technical change.
• Tennis fitness and movement training. Sessions emphasize acceleration mechanics, first step speed, recovery steps after wide balls, and the ability to hit heavy while on the move. Injury prevention for junior shoulders, elbows, and lower backs is built into the warm-up and cool-down. Conditioning blocks are progressive, not random.
• Adult clinics and live ball. Adult players find a direct, no-nonsense approach. Clinics build sound technique, doubles patterns, and smarter shot selection. Live ball sessions deliver the workout value adults want without throwing good mechanics out the window.
• Seasonal camps. During school breaks the academy runs camps that mix fundamentals, daily fitness, and plenty of point play. Groups stay small, players are grouped by level, and match play is supervised and debriefed. For families in charter or independent study programs, the academy is an approved vendor with several schools, which can make enrollment easier to manage.
• Tournament coaching and scheduling support. For juniors competing in Southern California events, coaches help with tournament selection, draw analysis, and match-day routines. Post-match debriefs focus on patterns and choices, not just winners and errors. The goal is to develop independent problem solvers who can adjust mid-match.

How they train, in detail

The technical model is compact and repeatable. On groundstrokes, the academy favors clean spacing, hip and trunk-driven acceleration, and a stable head throughout contact. Players learn to work heights and directions rather than muscling balls flat and hard. The serve is built from the ground up: balance and rhythm, a reliable toss window, and a clear plan for first and second serves. Tactical training is organized around patterns with thresholds. Coaches might set a drill to hold backhand crosscourt for eight neutral balls before changing direction, or to defend high and deep for two balls before counterattacking down the line. These thresholds give players a way to measure if the rally is on their terms.

Physical preparation is integrated into every session. Expect movement ladders with purpose, resisted first steps, medicine ball throws tied to rotational power, and tempo runs that match the demands of points and games rather than arbitrary conditioning tests. Recovery is addressed with mobility work, hydration habits, and simple nutrition guidance. The staff also brings mental skills onto the court. Players rehearse between-point routines, journal practice goals, and learn how to reset after an error. Conversations about confidence are anchored to behaviors that can be controlled: footwork intensity, target discipline, and body language.

Education and college pathway

For college-minded players, the staff outlines what coaches at the next level expect. Players assemble match film responsibly, track basic performance metrics that matter, and learn how to communicate with programs in a professional way. Guidance includes building a tournament schedule that shows progress and knowing when to prioritize training blocks over nonstop competition.

If you are exploring multiple Southern California options, it can help to compare structures. Some families look at a larger campus environment such as the Southern California Tennis Academy, while others who want a boarding model consider a boarding option at Weil Tennis Academy. For Orange County commuters, the full-day model at Advantage Tennis Academy in Irvine offers a different setup. Khachatryan’s niche is a precise, family-run academy inside a busy community hub.

Competition and pathways

The academy’s juniors compete widely across Southern California, one of the densest competitive calendars in the United States. Coaches encourage frequent match play, but not reckless scheduling. The philosophy is to train specifically for a tournament block, compete, then review and adjust. Players learn to take ownership of scouting, set routines for warm-up and cool-down, and keep a brief post-match journal to capture patterns that worked and those that did not.

Alumni and success stories

This is a results-minded program that measures progress in game quality first and rankings second. Over the years, academy players have earned strong USTA Southern California rankings, collected sectional titles at various age levels, and moved on to college rosters where they contribute immediately because their foundations are solid. Several former juniors return during school breaks to hit with current squads, a community loop that keeps standards high and shows younger players what is possible when habits compound.

The culture you will feel

Khachatryan Tennis Academy has a straightforward culture: be on time, work hard, and support the group. Because the program sits inside a busy city facility, there is a natural openness. Younger players see what older, better hitters look like. Parents can watch from the sidelines and get a transparent view of how sessions run.

The staff makes room for the human side of the sport. Coaches know when to push and when to reset. Players learn how to disagree with a call without losing their cool, how to check their body language in tight games, and how to support a teammate after a tough loss. The result is a training environment that is challenging without being harsh, where expectations are clear and praise is earned.

Costs, schedules, and accessibility

This is a commuter program without boarding. Families enroll in groups, squads, privates, or seasonal camps and pay per session or via packages, often managed through an online booking system. Pricing is not posted broadly because schedules and coach assignments vary, so you will need to inquire for current rates. Camp registrations and academy classes are offered throughout the year, and the center’s lighting allows for evening training on hot days. For homeschool or independent study families, the academy’s status as an approved vendor with select charter schools can simplify payments for certain programs.

Accessibility highlights:

• Central Burbank location with convenient parking.
• Evening training windows that fit school and work schedules.
• Flexible enrollment for families who need seasonal or school-year blocks.

What makes this academy different

• Family coaching heritage. Few local programs can point to a founder with national team credentials who still engages on court, alongside a director who competed at the Division I level and is deeply involved in daily training.
• Precision with a human touch. Sessions are structured, targets are specific, and feedback is plainspoken. The staff expects players to think, not just hit.
• Real match ecology. Training in a city tennis hub means more live hitters and frequent match play without building a private bubble. Players learn to compete in authentic conditions, from afternoon wind to weekend tournament traffic.
• Integrated mindset work. With coaches who study the mental side of sport, players practice routines that hold up under pressure rather than leaving the mental game to chance.
• Practical for Los Angeles families. The location, parking, and evening lights make it workable for busy school and work schedules.

Safety, recovery, and longevity

Junior tennis is a volume sport, and the academy is explicit about managing that volume wisely. Warm-ups emphasize joint preparation and movement quality. Hitting loads are tracked across the week so a spike in volume does not sabotage a tournament block. Recovery basics are taught early. Players bring a water plan, refuel promptly after longer sessions, and learn simple mobility sequences they can do at home. On court, coaches cue efficient footwork and smooth acceleration to reduce the risk of overuse. The message is consistent: protect your body so you can train again tomorrow.

Parent partnership and communication

The academy encourages parents to be partners, not shadow coaches. Expectations are set during enrollment, and communication lines are open. Coaches share the week’s focus themes so parents understand why a drill looks the way it does. After tournaments, feedback is brief and constructive. The goal is alignment. When player, coach, and family share the same cues and definitions, progress accelerates.

Future outlook and vision

The academy continues to refine its seasonal offerings and community partnerships while keeping the core small-group, coach-led model. Expect ongoing iteration in high-performance blocks, more structured match-play ladders, and continued integration of physical and mental training so that progression is measurable across a season, not just after an isolated clinic. The vision is simple: grow without losing the clarity and care that built the academy.

Bottom line

Khachatryan Tennis Academy is built for families who want careful, accountable coaching in a convenient Los Angeles setting. It is not a residential compound with a dozen amenities; it is a focused program that prioritizes the work that moves a player forward. If you value a family-run culture, clear teaching, and frequent match play, this is a compelling option to consider.

Is it for you?

Choose this academy if you want year-round outdoor training in the Los Angeles area, a coaching staff with international and collegiate experience, and a culture that blends precision with mentorship. It suits juniors on a college pathway, developing tournament players who need structure and match play, and adults who want honest improvement rather than hype. It is less suited to families seeking full-time boarding or a closed-campus experience, and it assumes parents are ready to partner in the weekly logistics of a busy city facility.