The Sania Mirza Tennis Academy (SMTA) announced a partnership with former Portuguese Davis Cup player and internationally acclaimed coach Marco Seruca to launch a High Performance Tennis Programme at the academy, commencing May 1, 2026. The programme is designed to develop competitive players of all age groups through a structured, internationally benchmarked training system covering technique, fitness, match strategy, and mental conditioning.
With over 35 years of high-performance coaching experience, Marco Seruca is a former Portuguese Davis Cup player, the founder of MS Star Academy, and a former Technical Director of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association. His coaching philosophy rests on four pillars, technical precision, physical conditioning, tactical intelligence, and mental resilience, with a proven track record of developing players capable of competing at the highest levels of the game.
“India has extraordinary raw talent. What has been missing is a structured, high-performance environment to channel it. The Sania Mirza Tennis Academy provides exactly the right platform to do that,” said Seruca, head coach, SMTA High Performance Programme
A six-time Grand Slam champion and Padma Bhushan recipient, Sania Mirza has long been committed to raising the standard of tennis in India. The High Performance Programme is the most ambitious initiative the academy has undertaken, professionalising every aspect of a competitive player’s journey, from training and fitness to tournament planning and sports psychology.
“India has the potential to produce world-class tennis players. Bringing Marco Seruca to Hyderabad gives Indian players access to the standard of coaching they deserve,” said Sania, founder of SMTA.
The programme will run six days a week and includes: Individual player development plans and regular performance assessments, morning and evening on-court sessions, professional fitness conditioning, and competitive match play and tournament planning, professional pathway guidance, and mental training.
Mini camp from April 10
Ahead of the main programme launch, Seruca will personally conduct a 3-day tennis mini camp commencing April 10, 2026. The camp is open to players of all age groups and will include on-court training sessions, individual player assessments, and a pathway presentation for parents.
