Luis Perez / Technical Director of International Tennis Academy:

The facilities are high-level—it's like top in the world. That's what I enjoy the most. Here is the centre court where all the finals of the WTA 250 (tournament). They also (host) the ATP challenger and the National Games.

If you don't have this kind of facility, you cannot organize WTA 250—it's like first-division tournament in professional tennis.

Luis Perez, 43, a former ATP player from Madrid, turned a study opportunity in the United States into an 18-year coaching career. Now, drawn by Nansha’s premier facilities and driven by his own quest for growth, he is setting out to build a world-class tennis coaching team.

Luis Perez / Technical Director of International Tennis Academy:

I was (a) very active kid when I was growing up. So I was playing many sports; I like to be outside. So I started playing soccer, and tennis because my parents like to watch tennis. So from there, I started playing tournaments, getting better, and decided to become professional. My highest ranking was 570 in the world.

When I finished playing professional, I started traveling with some players, coaching them. And then I went to work in different places in Spain and I arrive in April (2025) in Nansha.

For Luis, discipline is the non-negotiable foundation of coaching, as raw talent alone is never enough to compete at the highest level. This belief underpins his commitment to building a world-class coaching team and delivering tailored, top-tier programs that give future stars a clear pathway to success.

McQueen / Student:

I just turned 15, and my latest achievement was an ITF J30 boys' singles runner-up title in Cambodia. The training here is more efficient and systematic, and the coaching approach is highly scientific.

Western-style training prioritizes efficiency over volume—it's not about training more, but training smarter.

Home to ATP and WTA tournaments and a 32-court complex with the region’s only all-weather clay courts, Nansha has become the GBA’s leading sports hub, attracting top international coaching talent such as Luis, José, and Marco.

José María Paniagua / Argentina Tennis Coach:

I looking (for) one new challenge for my career and for my life. I thinking in China because I believe in the potential of this country and the culture.

Marco Turano / Italy Tennis Coach:

Nansha is a new city, I can see many buildings that are growing up now. It's very calm, very easy to be focused on what you have to do for your work.

In tennis, I think as always happens. If you spend time, money, and energy on something, it's going to pay off for sure. So I think there are good possibilities, in the next years we can see some very good Chinese players in the tour.

Luis Perez / Technical Director of International Tennis Academy:

For me, I think it's the best country right now to live or to create a program. The results in 8 months have been good.

On my rest day, I will take a walk or a ride on the park—to relax and to meditate, recharge my batteries, my energy.

My dream will be to create, or help achieve with one of our players first male Grand Slam champion from China, and try to make as many top-country players from this academy.