Testimonials
Dimitri was the most thoughtful, caring coach I have ever had. He came to practice every day with an infectious energy that made learning tennis and being at the courts so much fun. Many days he stayed extra hours to give me individual attention working on my technique and strategy. He gave me clear visuals to remember technique on my shots and created a space that was safe to learn and make mistakes to learn from. Dimitri’s emphasis on footwork and technique is amazing and goes hand in hand with his incredible knowledge of the game and ability to connect with each player he teaches. His instructional techniques were different for each athlete and he was able to connect with each of us on a personal level giving us nicknames and getting to know us as people before athletes. Each practice was structured with goals in mind while also being able to find time for having fun and learning new shots. Dimitri is extremely creative in his instruction starting each practice with a purpose and introducing new skills in a way that was fun. I remember playing touch games to start practice to work on my feel and drop shots while having no idea that this was what was happening. Dimitri is the most amazing, personable coach I have ever had!!
Rosie Johanson
Former U16, U18 Canadian National Champion
I would recommend Dimitris’s training programs and coaching methods without any reservations. Dimitri has effectively coached my three sons, who have very different training needs and styles. I have observed how Dimitri’s coaching approach has engaged and motivated his students and masterfully build upon their skills and individual needs. Dimitri’s training approach’s meticulousness and its proven effectiveness, with many of his students playing competitively on national and international levels, has allowed my sons to feel confident about their skills. That confidence has translated into mental toughness on and off the court and a life-long passion for tennis. Any tennis player or club will be a winner under Dimitri Penchev’s expertise!!
Aneta Stolba
When I was 35 years old, I decided to take up a new sport: tennis!! I wanted to keep fit with a sport. I never expected that I would be so passionate about it!! My coach Dimitri Penchev contributed to that. He made the training interesting and yet simple!! He finds and uses the personal strengths of each player and utilizes them in a most efficient way so that the player is learning efficiently with maximum interest. The training was done step by step, and my level was rising gradually and significantly. In a very short time, I was able to play full sets with good technique. My technical skills improved so fast and so well, that I felt I am ready for Rolland Garros!! I never forgot the technique of tennis, although due to an accident I abandoned the sport and came back to it years later… For me, the technique I learned and the training I had with Dimitri Penchev, does not compare to any other coach!! I say this with lots of experience!! After he left Greece, I had many failed attempts to try and find another coach as good as him!!
Elen Papoutsidaki
I know tennis director Dimitri Penchev for a long time and can honestly say that he is one very professional and highly experienced tennis coach. We have been privileged to have our kids been coached by him since they were very young. With his excellent methods, unique organization, and management they have been able to become very successful players for their age in Canada. I would recommend Dimitri Penchev to any player that loves tennis and wants to improve his/her game (technically, mentally, and tactically)!!
Slavi Asenov
Dimitri Penchev is probably the best tennis coach I have ever known in the 40 years I have been playing tennis. He was the coach of the Tennis Club in Patras, Greece, where I was Vice President. Dimitri excelled at coaching juniors and adults how to think on the tennis court and read the opponent. He has so much technical knowledge, that all the athletes he coached, advanced to Panhellenic Championships. Beyond these skills, he is the best person you can trust to educate your children about tennis and advance their skills.
Ilias Kontaksis
Dimitri is a very talented tennis coach and above all is a wonderful person!! He trained me from the age of 6. He taught me to be a good athlete and that I became a good tennis player. I managed to place myself in the top 10 players in my country. I feel very proud of what he has taught me, and I thank him for everything he has done for me!!
Diamadis Synanidis
Coach Dimitri Penchev….!! Where to start? Coach, teacher and above all a very good friend. I spent many years on the tennis court, and I could not find another coach as good as him!! We had difficult times with me learning on the court, but he always corrected me with a smile. I have always loved tennis, but because of Dimitri, tennis became a major part of my life!! With his training, I advanced, I advanced to a very good tennis level. I still play tennis to this day and I still use his corrections in my mind to help me maintain my good technical skills. Dimitri is the best tennis coach I had against me on the tennis court.
Julien Kourtis
Dimitri brings with him a piece of vast knowledge and lifelong experience, which has been accumulated in a few different Tennis nations, through thorough work in player development during formative years!!
Oded Dedi Jacob
BC National Junior Training Program
Head National Coach
I started playing tennis at the age of 6 with coach Dimitri Penchev. In the 10 years that I had his as a coach on a competitive level, he taught me proper technique, improved my physical condition and strength, and taught me to read my opponents during the games. Above all, he helped me realize my potential and utilize it in the best possible way. His ability to impart his knowledge of tennis to others is amazing and in all these years he has made me love tennis as much he does. I am proud to have met him and I fell in love with tennis because of him.
Akis Synanidis
While training with Coach Dimitri, he helped me to improve my technique fast, to automate the right technique, and on the mental side to give me confidence and help control my emotions on the court.
Leo Romero
Having been a student of Mr. Dimitri Penchev for over 15 years, I can say with confidence that apart from being the best coach I have ever met in my life, he is the best that “passed” through my city Patras, and perhaps from all over Greece!! Both, his methods and effectiveness are based on his extensive experience and solid educational background. The techniques and the way he teaches them are everything you need for success on the tennis court I could not recommend anyone else, nor could I trust someone like Mr. Penchev, both for learning and improving my movements and techniques!! What a pity it is that he moved so far away, but how perfect that with his online coaching platform we will have him “close” to us, even it is on the other side of the world!!
Vivi Papapaschou
I met coach Dimitri in Vancouver, Canada, and have known him for 12 years. He was my son’s tennis coach for 8 years. Dimitri is very knowledgeable and has a great approach with the players. He works equally well with beginners and high-performance athletes. Under his guidance, hundreds of kids developed excellent tennis skills and a love for the game. Under Dimitri’s coaching, the kids were improving and showing outstanding results. He has a holistic approach to preparation incorporating fitness, nutrition, and mental readiness. Dimitri also trained coaches and created a wonderful team of specialists at Global Tennis Academy. His achievements were recognized in Canada and he received multiple awards for his work. Dimitri has a great personality and communicates positively with the parents, co-workers, and players. I am very pleased with Dimitri’s work and my son’s achievements. I strongly recommend Dimitri as a tennis coach.
Theodora Runtova
In Greece and specifically in Patras, tennis was less widespread. Coach Dimitri Penchev was my first tennis coach. He is serious about teaching tennis properly and he loves his job very much!! Coming from a tennis family Dimitri has a deep knowledge of the sport, and he uses his innovative ideas and methods to educate his students about the basic principles and secrets of the sport. He is very patient, and he has answers and solutions to any questions and needs that a beginner might have or can arise in an advanced tennis player!! Dimitri is undoubtedly the reliable and correct choice!!
Marios Legkas
I learned how to play tennis at the age of 40 for the sake of an excellent coach Dimitri Penchev. He managed to teach me the secrets of the game in a way that I was waiting the day of the training like a boy going out to play with his friends. He never stopped to show me how to move, hit the ball, searching the ideal spaces to put the ball in the opponent’s field. And in other words, to enjoy every single moment during the process of being able to play with people who started playing tennis from youth. I feel blessed that I selected Dimitri to introduce me to the world of a such beautiful sport and I am very happy that I am a member of a tennis club playing with so many people. Dimitri has a natural talent to inspire people and knowledge to properly convey all the secrets of the sport.
Spiros Gennatas
I have been privileged to know tennis director, Dimitri Penchev, as well as to experience first-hand, top-class tennis coaching. Dimitri is a strong leader and visionary with a very solid reputation in Canada, the USA, and Europe. His unique training methods based on active planning and excellent organizational and management skills have produced great champions and have placed tennis clubs at the top of the list. My niece, who was coached by Dimitri, achieved number one ranking and full tennis scholarship at a highly regarded University in USA.
Karie Somova
I have been very lucky to learn tennis under the instructions of coach Dimitri. I still remember Dimitri stating from time to time "I want you to play beautiful tennis and enjoy the game". I have spent many hours of training on the techniques and studying tactics. Learning tennis under coach Dimitris' methods has been a real character builder for me for the rest of my life. Thanks for everything Coach!!
Petros Loukatos
Coach Dimitri is so much more than a skills coach. His ability to see the whole child leads to an excellent vision of the growth plan for his athletes. My son had a clear understanding of his path which enabled him to stay motivated during low periods and stay humble during high periods. Coach Dimitri’s holistic understanding of athlete development provided nutritional understanding, psychological strengthening, physical strengthening, skill development, and character building. His athletes are known for their sportsmanship and reverence for the sport of tennis. Coach Dimitri has helped my son grow to be a better man.
Dave Maclean
I was lucky to encounter Dimitri Penchev when I decided to start tennis as an adult. After having trained individually with him and having experienced his professionalism, drive, and commitment, he has inspired me in playing with the same passion and love for the game, resulting in me playing every day up to now. He helped me in developing my skills and improving my technique especially my backhand slice. One of the best tennis coaches I have ever trained with. Thank you, Dimitri!!
Vagelis Anagnostopoulos
Dimitri is an excellent coach with great international experience and with a very good methodology of teaching, learning, and training all the kind of player levels. I can give an indication about his online training - it is useful for everyone that wants to be a good tennis player or improve his skills.
Luiz Fereira
An amazing coaching experience! Dimitri’s has a systematic approach to teaching and explaining the fundamental principles of tennis. Dimitri passes this experience to his students in a seemingly effortless and enjoyable way. He helped me learn the basics in no time and then further elevate my skills to the next level. I highly recommend coach Dimitri Penchev to people who are considering starting tennis and to tennis players that want to effectively improve their game.
Andreas Lianos
Dimitri’s coaching methods are very detailed and thorough. He is methodical in his ways and is able to teach any style of player from the ground up and into their competitive prime. From the bare bones and foundations of technical fundamentals to the strategic skills and tactical smarts of an advanced player - Dimitri encompasses every component in his teaching in well-balanced progressions, which ultimately allows him to raise an all-around tennis player in any athlete who is lucky enough to work with him!
Katerina Boiko
We were lucky to meet Dimitri through a friend. From the first practice he has been thorough and precise. My daughter and wife had some of their techniques corrected. Both of their forehands are stronger than ever and purely due to Dimitri. My daughter often says “Dimitri taught me this”.. Professional and technically sound. Great motivation and passion for the game. Can often be heard saying “Love it!”
Ian
Corrected my previous Coaches mistakes. Fixed all the fundamentals so we could build our game. Learned so much. Improving every week, until Covid forced us to leave.. Can’t wait to go back and take more lessons. Dimitri’s coaching system worked right from the start. I have been playing for years and immediately saw progress in my family’s game. Solid process to identify and correct mistakes in swing and footwork. His methods are sound, development from the ground up with passion and commitment. We loved learning from the fun lessons!!
Seoung Hee
The long-term collaboration with Dimitri played a decisive role in my later professional career. The training planning, he applies and the teaching methods he transferred to me, helped many of my students to evolve and stand out in important tournaments.
Georgos Douvris
I started playing tennis as an adult at age of 37 from the beginner level. Before meeting coach Dimitri, I tried different coaches, but their style of coaching didn't help me much. Dimitri with his coaching system and experience opened my eyes to "real" tennis by starting to work on my technique from scratch. I was amazed by his approach of seeing "bad habits" right away and correcting my technique in a short period of time. It was just semiprivate lessons every second week. After each lesson, I was working on what I learned from him using my ball machine till my next semiprivate lesson. He "infected " me with his passion for tennis. His coaching approach was so effective that in just 4 months I went to my first tournament and got my first trophy in singles 3.0 category. By learning some new stuff and correcting my technique with Dimitri just for a couple of months before the tournament season, I improved my skills to Advance level just in a few seasons. My best result is the trophy as a finalist in singles 4.0 category in Stanley park Open- the biggest tournament in British Columbia. Dimitri also has a unique efficient coaching system for juniors. He started coaching my daughter when she was 11 years old. She was kind of late in her tennis development. But after just one year of regular lessons with Dimitri she improved her technique, became one of the top 10 ranking players in BC in her age category, and started bringing her trophies home. I am very grateful to Dimitri for his unique talent of teaching for making tennis to be a part of our lives. He is the best coach I have ever met!
Natalia
Dimitri Penchev was introduced to me as my hometown's tennis club, Patras, Greece, new Head Coach, in the mid '90s. As I have been involved with the sport since my childhood, mid 70's, it was easily pretty obvious to me the deep knowledge of the sport and the noble ethic of his work. That was only natural thanks to the fact that he's been the son of his father, who 's been famously and widely admitted as an academic milestone of Bulgarian tennis, Professor of Tennis in the Physical Education and Sport Science University of Sofia, Bulgaria. Dimitri kept up with the dedication, discipline, and morale of a serious heritage!! In his days, Patras Tennis Club flourished and the very generation of those of us who met him were all lucky enough to benefit seriously about the quality of our game. Dimitri Penchev is undisputedly someone who knows how to elevate your game level thanks to the inspired, innovative efficiency of his coaching methods. A true Tennis Professional!
Nikos Marudas
Thanks to Dimitri’s structured coaching plan, I saw gradual and developmentally appropriate improvements in my son’s progress with tennis. It was the right combination of group and individual classes and fitness for a young athlete.
Judith Law
As an adult entering the tennis scene later in life, I was lucky to have crossed paths with coach Dimitri Penchev. Dimitri was exceptionally adept at capturing the strengths and weaknesses in analyzing my overall tennis game. I found coach Dimitri to be highly engaged in each and every tennis lesson, fully present, and ready to tackle any of my weekly game’s reports with corrective drills and strategies to arm myself for the next match or tournament. Coach Dimitri possesses an above-average emotional intelligence and empathy for players, builds a strong rapport, and communicates efficiently with clear instructions and focused attention. Coach Dimitri has shown me and my husband while in a lesson a desire to listen and actively participate in formulating our plan for growing our game from beginner to very advanced levels with high performance and explosive style lessons. His tactical feedback has been a key factor in our success on the court.
Sylvie Quenneville
I started learning tennis with Mr. Dimitri Penchev as my teacher, having no previous experience in this sport. Within two years I was able to win the local tournament in Patras, Greece, for the three consequent years. I mention this fact so as to stress the effectiveness of Mr. Penchev’s training methods. His teaching focused on the technical analysis of the strokes, and the constant correction of errors. He teaches you not only the techniques but also the tactics of the game and how to use your body and your mind in order to make your play more effective. Though he insisted on the discipline that tennis demands, he was at the same time making learning enjoyable. Overall, I regard him as a trusted and capable coach, who knows very well this sport.
Xanthi Sarantzi