Axis Tennis was founded with a clear mission: to provide a comprehensive platform for aspiring college tennis players to develop their skills, academics and character. Their unique approach combines world-class tennis coaching with a rigorous academic support system, ensuring our students are equipped for the demands of top-tier universities.
They specialize in student admissions to top tier universities and have developed a niche utilizing our extensive network of coaches, advisors, tutors and alumni. Their network combined with a personalized approach to understanding the player’s academic background and career goals have been instrumental 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, who both bring extensive experience and a deep passion for tennis to the academy. Shariq Khan, an experienced coach and mentor, is actively involved in tennis 20 years, successfully coaching numerous players at the collegiate and professional levels. His expertise lies in understanding how to use tennis as a pathway to gain admission to prestigious academic institutions. Over the years, Shariq has helped many student-athletes navigate the complex college admissions process, ensuring they excel both on the field and in the classroom.
Chris Begg, the co-founder, has worked with players of all ages and genders, many of whom have been ranked among the best. 50 ATP/WTA the players. He holds the highest coaching certifications globally and was previously a head development coach at the prestigious Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, where he collaborated with Toni Nadal. Chris’ extensive experience in player development has been instrumental in creating a coaching environment at Axis Tennis that fosters success at the highest levels of the sport.
How was the idea of ​​Axis Tennis born? What prompted them to create it?
The concept for Axis Tennis was born from the shared vision of Shariq Khan and Chris Begg to create a tennis academy that goes beyond just improving performance on the court. They identified the need for a comprehensive approach to tennis training—one that integrates elite training with a strong emphasis on personal growth, education, and long-term career planning. Both founders were driven by their experiences working with young athletes and their desire to create a program that supports players not only as athletes, but also as individuals prepared to excel in all aspects of life.
What is the philosophy of Axis Tennis?
At Axis Tennis, our philosophy focuses on building a complete and functional support system for each player, ensuring success both on and off the court. While technical skills and physical conditioning are essential, we place equal importance on academic achievement, including school work and SAT/NTA the preparation. What sets Axis Tennis apart is our team of highly qualified tutors—many of whom played college tennis in the Ivy League or other prestigious universities. They possess a unique understanding of the academic and athletic demands facing student-athletes and work to align these areas to maximize college recruiting potential and scholarship opportunities.
The Founders are committed to fostering academic and athletic excellence, embodied in our comprehensive support system. Each player is surrounded by a dedicated team, including a tennis coach, fitness trainer, physiotherapist, academic tutor, SAT/NTA prep specialist and college admissions counselor. This collaborative approach ensures alignment and accountability, all working toward the common goal of player success.
What are some of the challenges players face in the college admissions process?
Navigating the college admissions process can be overwhelming 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 determine where to start and often underestimate the importance of excelling in both academics and tennis. As a result, some student-athletes attend schools that are not recognized by top colleges, take courses that don’t align with their long-term goals, or compete in tournaments that offer little value. This is often due to a lack of synergy between the student-athlete’s environment and their goals, with tennis coaches sometimes unaware of the 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 college placement process for its athletes. With years of expertise and strong relationships with college coaches across the country, Axis provides personalized instruction to ensure each player finds the right fit for their academic and athletic goals.
The process begins with a detailed, individualized assessment to understand each player’s unique goals. A personalized plan is then developed, supported by a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to the player’s success. This team includes a tennis coach, academic teacher, SAT/NTA tutor, physiotherapist and fitness trainer. Each member plays a key role in helping the player achieve his aspirations.
The tennis coach, who works daily with the player, stays in close communication about both athletic and academic progress. This comprehensive approach ensures that while technical skills are enhanced, equal focus is placed on academic responsibilities. This balance is essential for those looking to use their tennis skills to gain admission to top universities.
Can you share some success stories?
Axis Tennis has a long history of helping players succeed both collegiately and professionally. In recent years, some of our players have been ranked at the top 20 THE ITF world ranking for young people, while others have committed to prestigious universities such as Harvard, Duke and Stanford. We have also helped athletes launch their professional careers, with some making significant progress, moving up 1000 stains on ATPranking within a year.
Additionally, for the past four consecutive years, Axis Tennis has had at least one player compete in the US Open. Many of our graduates have gone on to attend top universities such as Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, USC, UCLAand Dartmouth, reflecting the strength of our college recruiting program. These achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of our integrated approach to player development and our commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch.
What is your college placement success rate?
We are proud to carry one 100% Success rate in placing players in collegiate programs. Our expertise lies in guiding athletes toward admission to top academic institutions. This year, we are working with players aiming to get into highly selective schools such as withJohns Hopkins and the California Institute of Technology. These institutions are known for their rigorous admissions standards, and our program provides the guidance and resources needed to help students navigate this competitive process.
What are your goals for the future with Axis Tennis?
At Axis Tennis, our future goals focus on expanding our impact on player development and college placement while continually improving the overall experience for our athletes. We aim to strengthen our reputation as a leading academy that not only develops top level tennis talent but also excels in guiding students to prestigious academic institutions.
Moving forward, we plan to deepen our partnerships with colleges and universities, expand access to state-of-the-art training facilities and further innovate our comprehensive approach to player development. Our goal is to provide full support in all aspects of physical, technical, academic and mental preparation, ultimately empowering each student-athlete to reach their full potential both on the field and in their academic endeavors .
