Axis Tennis was founded with a clear goal: to provide a complete platform for aspiring college tennis players to develop their skills, academics, and character. Their unique approach combines world-class tennis training with a strong academic support system, ensuring our students are equipped for the needs of top universities.
They specialize in admissions to top universities and have established a niche using our extensive network of coaches, mentors, teachers, and alumni. Their network combined with a personal approach to understanding an athlete’s educational background and career goals has been invaluable in guiding our students through the complex college admissions process.
Tennis View Magazine recently spoke with the founders of Axis Tennis.
Tell us a little about the owners/founders of Axis Tennis, and what their background is.
Axis Tennis was founded by Shariq Khan and Chris Begg, both of whom bring extensive knowledge and a deep passion for tennis to the school. Shariq Khan, a veteran coach and mentor, has played a major role in the game of tennis 20 years, successfully coaching many players at both the collegiate and professional levels. His genius lies in understanding how to use tennis as a way to gain admission to higher education institutions. Over the years, Shariq has helped many student-athletes navigate the complex college admissions process, ensuring they succeed both on the court and in the classroom.
Chris Begg, the founder, has worked with players of all ages and genders, many of whom have advanced to the top. 50 ATP/WTA the players. He has the highest training certifications in the world and was a leading development coach at the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, where he worked with Toni Nadal. Chris’ extensive experience in player development has contributed to creating a training environment at Axis Tennis that fosters success at the highest levels of the sport.
How did the idea for Axis Tennis come about? What led them to create it?
The concept of Axis Tennis was born from the shared vision of Shariq Khan and Chris Begg to create a tennis school that goes beyond just improving court performance. They identified the need for a comprehensive approach to tennis training—one that includes elite training with an emphasis on personal growth, education, and long-term career planning. Both founders are driven by their experience working with young athletes and their desire to create a program that supports athletes not only as athletes but also as whole people ready to excel in all aspects of life.
What is the philosophy of Axis Tennis?
At Axis Tennis, our philosophy focuses on creating a complete and effective support system for each player, ensuring success on and off the court. While technical skills and physical fitness are important, we place equal importance on academic success, including schoolwork as well The SAT/ACT preparation. What sets Axis Tennis apart is our team of highly qualified instructors—many of whom have played college tennis in the Ivy League or other prestigious universities. They have a unique understanding of the academic and athletic needs that student-athletes face and work to align these areas to increase university recruiting and scholarship opportunities.
The founders are committed to promoting academic and athletic excellence, which is embedded in our comprehensive support system. Each player is surrounded by a dedicated team, which includes a head tennis coach, fitness coach, physiotherapist, education teacher, The SAT/ACT prep specialist, and college admissions counselor. This collaborative approach ensures alignment and accountability, all working toward the shared goal of player success.
What are some of the challenges players face in the college admissions process?
Navigating the college admissions process can be difficult for young tennis players and their families. Common challenges include understanding recruiting timelines, balancing academic and athletic goals, and communicating effectively with college coaches. Many players struggle to figure out where to start and often underestimate the importance of being good at both academics and tennis. As a result, some student-athletes attend schools that are not recognized by top colleges, take courses that do not align with their long-term goals, or compete in tournaments that offer little value. This is often due to a lack of interaction between the student-athlete’s environment and their goals, and tennis coaches are sometimes unaware of a player’s academic progress.
How can Axis Tennis help in this process?
Axis Tennis offers a comprehensive college recruiting program designed to simplify the complex process of college placement for its athletes. With years of expertise and strong connections with college coaches nationwide, Axis provides personalized guidance to ensure each player finds the right fit for their academic and athletic goals.
The process begins with a detailed, individual assessment to understand each player’s unique goals. A customized plan is then developed, supported by a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to the athlete’s success. This team includes a tennis coach, an education teacher, The SAT/ACT teacher, physiotherapist, and fitness trainer. Each member plays an important role in helping the player achieve his wishes.
A tennis coach, who works with the player every day, is always in close contact with regard to the progress of the sport and education. This inclusive approach ensures that while technical skills are honed, equal focus is placed on academic activities. This balance is important for those who want to use their tennis skills to gain admission to top universities.
Can you share any success stories?
Axis Tennis has a long history of helping players succeed both collegiately and professionally. In recent years, several of our players have been ranked high 20 of The ITF standing among the world’s youngest students, while others have committed to prestigious universities such as Harvard, Duke, and Stanford. We also help athletes start their professional careers, some make significant progress, moving up 1,000 spots on ATPlevels during the year.
Additionally, for four consecutive years, Axis Tennis has had at least one player in the tournament US Open it. Many of our students have attended top universities such as Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, USC, UCLAand Dartmouth, which demonstrates the strength of our college recruiting program. These achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of our integrated approach to player development and our commitment to excellence on and off the court.
What is your college admissions success rate?
We are proud to maintain a 100% success rate in placing players in affiliate programs. Our expertise lies in guiding athletes for admission to higher education institutions. This year, we are working with players who intend to benefit from the most exclusive schools such as MITJohns Hopkins, and the California Institute of Technology. These institutions are known for their strict admissions standards, and our program provides the guidance and resources needed to help students navigate this competitive process.
What are the future goals for Axis Tennis?
At Axis Tennis, our future goals are focused on increasing our influence on player development and college placement while continuously improving the overall experience for our athletes. We aim to strengthen our reputation as a leading school that not only develops top level tennis talent but also excels in guiding students to higher education institutions.
Moving forward, we plan to deepen our relationships with colleges and universities, expand access to world-class training facilities, and develop our comprehensive player development approach. Our goal is to provide comprehensive support in all aspects of physical, technical, academic, and mental preparation, ultimately empowering every student-athlete to reach their full potential both on the court and in their academic endeavors.
