Professional Tennis Staff
Saw Mill Club tennis professionals include graduates of prestigious college programs and international institutions. All are certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) . Furthermore, each professional participates in the Saw Mill Club Educational Pyramid, a continuous education curriculum and advance certification track.
Zuka Mukhuradze
Director of Tennis
Zuka has a special combination of world class playing and top flight teaching experience that is hard to beat. He was a highly ranked junior player both in his native Georgia and in the United States and continues to compete at the highest level of regional and club leagues. Founder of the innovative Edge Program in 2008, Zuka has mentored some of the area’s leading junior players and helped many of them go on to successful college careers at top D1 and Ivy League programs. Zuka shares a championship line up of experience, innovation and dedication with each and every class and student he teaches.
Robert Ferrante
Experience:
- Hitting Partner for Maria Kirilenko #11 on WTA Tour 2012-Present
- WTA/ATP Hitting Partner for various Masters and U.S. Open Series tournaments 2012-Present
- Assistant Men’s and Women’s Coach at Fairfield University 2012-2013
- Volunteer Assistant Tennis Coach at Yorktown High School 2007-2013
- Tennis Pro at Club Fit Jefferson Valley 2011-2012
- Assistant Tennis Pro at Willow Ridge Country Club 2005-2009
Rankings:
- Played on the ITF Pro Circuit 2011-2012
- 147 on USTA Pro Circuit 2012
- Played at Fairfield University Division 1 2007-2011
- MAAC Rookie of the Year 2008
- MAAC First and Second Team Honors 2007-2011
- Top 5 in USTA Eastern Section and Top 50 in the Nation Boy’s 12’s through Boy’s 18
- Two Time Section 1 Winner and State Quarterfinalist
Education:
- Earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Fairfield University
Timon Prosper
Timon hails from the Spice Isle, a.k.a Grenada, from the parish of St. Georges.
Experience:
- Ranked in the top 3 in Grenada from 1999-2004
- Represented his country in Junior Davis Cup action
- Led Mercy College to a number 28 ranking and a Division II National Tournament appearance in 2007
- Won the Scott Stratan Memorial tournament in Queens College in 2007
- Was a Sutton East Tennis Club singles champion in 2010
- Won the semifinals of an ITF Caribbean Under 14 Championships against the best player and heavy favorite
- First ever to win a visit the United States to train at a tennis camp in Florida for 2 weeks
Monica Yajima
Experience:
- Junior Australian Open, US Open, and Wimbledon (2008, 2009)
- 4 international titles, 2 national singles titles
- Fairfield University Women’s Tennis Team (2010-2014) Fairfield, CT:
- #1 singles, #1 doubles, and 3-year Captain
- All MAAC First Team Honors (2010-2014)
- 3-time MAAC Women’s Tennis Player of the year (2010-2013)
- NCAA team appearance (2012)
- Taught at several tennis and country clubs in Westchester County
Rankings:
- Junior ITF Circuit: Top #120
- USTA National 12’s: #10
- USTA National 14’s, 16’s, 18’s: Top #25
- USTA Eastern 12’s, 14’s, 16’s, 18’s: Top #5
Education:
- Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT Class of 2014
- Majors: Marketing- Integrated Communications
- Management- Human Resources
Steve Owens
Experience:
- W.A.T.C.H. circuit Professional Tour 1974-75
- Teaching Pro – Colony Beach and Tennis Resort
- Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy
- Touring Coach with Nick Bollettieri
- ATP and WTA circuit
- Worked with Jimmy Arias, Tim Mayotte, Aaron Krickstein, Brad Gilbert, Vince Van patten, Yannick Noah, Brian Gottfried, Andre Agassi, Carling Bassett, Lisa Bonder, Shelly Solomon, Kathy Rinaldi, Kathleen Horvath, Pam Casale
- Director of Tennis, Nick Bollettieri Tennis Camp, Beaver Dam, WI
- Director of Tennis, Nick Bollettieri Tennis Camp, Deerfield Academy, MA
- Taught clinics with Nick Bollettieri for USTA, USPTA, ITF world wide
Rankings:
- Previously ranked in the 35’s, 40’s, 45’s and 50’s
Certifications:
- USPTA P-1 and Florida Section Tester College
- 1971 University of Alabama
- BS in Physical Education
Isabel Fernandez
Experience:
- Won many titles on the Pro Tour in the 70’s
- Semi-finalist of Wimbledon Ladies doubles in 1973
- Round of 16 in Singles at US Open in Forest Hills in 1973
- Virginia Slims quarterfinalist several times in singles
- Doubles winner of Dallas with Martina Navratilova
- Starting teaching in 1975 with the top Colombian up and coming young players
- Last 20 years was teaching in Queens, Rockland County, Hastings and Westchester
Education:
- University of South Florida in Tampa, #1 singles and doubles positions 1970
Rankings:
- #1 in Columbia since she was 15 years old
- South American Champion in 1971-71
- WTA #21 in singles and #15 in doubles in 1973
- #1 Eastern Section Women’s 50’s 2001-02
Kevin Higgins
Experience:
- Played singles and doubles for University of Dayton, Div 1. 1977-198
- All state team junior and senior years in High School
- Four Seasons Racquet Club, 1985-1994
- Weston Field Club, head Pro, 1990-1993
- Sleepy Hollow Country Club, 1994-1995
Certification:
- USPTA
Education:
- University of Dayton, B.S. Marketing
Norm Zelenko
Experience:
- Won several singles and doubles tournaments in Westchester several years ago
- Coached son who achieved an Eastern and National ranking
- Armonk Tennis Club
- Mount Kisco and Tarrytown Recreation Programs
- School Administrator prior to teaching tennis for 26 years in the Ossining School System
Certification:
- PTR Instructor
Education:
- Lehigh University – varsity basketball and tennis
- BA in Sociology and Education
- Masters in Education
Juan Carlo Manuel
Experience:
- All Conference- 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002
- All State Section 1- 2000
- Chappaqua Swim and Tennis- Assistant Pro
- Lakeside Swim and Tennis- Assistant Pro
Certifications:
- USPTA
Education:
- Tyler Junior College- Tennis Business Managements- 2002-04
Charles Lacy-Thompson
Playing Experience:
- UK – Ranked # 25 Singles, # 10 Doubles in Junior 18s
- UK – Played in European Senior Club Championships in Austria (placed #12)
- UK – Member of Seniors Tennis Club of Great Britain
- USA – Played USTA Eastern 40,45 & 50 Senior tournaments
- USA – Consistently ranked in Eastern Top 10 in Singles and Top 5 in Doubles
- USA – 5 time team member of USTA Eastern Atlantic Coast Cup team
- USA – Daughter playing Division One College Tennis on scholarship
- USA – USTA 5.0 Played and Captained Teams for ten years
Teaching Experience:
- Teaching positions held at Premier , Birchwood , & Solaris Sports Clubs
- Teaching from ages three and up, U10 Quick Start, Junior Camp, Private Lessons & Clinics to Juniors & Adults, High Performance Juniors, USTA Teams
- Producer of Video Coaching Tips on SMC Facebook page
- USPTA Elite Professional Certification
Rich Finn
With nearly 50 years of playing, Richard brings a wealth of experience and knowledge on the court. A top ranked Eastern Tennis Association junior player, he played several years on the National Junior circuit including the USA National 18’s and 16s Championships before going on to play four years at Colgate University. Taught by the legendary Elwood Cooke, a Wimbledon finalist and doubles champion, Richard espouses a clean, simple, traditional game built on solid groundstrokes and intelligent shot-making decisions. A perfect combination for the beginner, recreational player or serious competitor. His two daughters played collegiate tennis and today he plays on doubles on several league teams.